feel
11 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of FEEL
1
[+ object]
:
to be aware of (something that affects you physically, such as pain, heat, or an object touching your body)
-
He felt a sudden pain in his leg.
-
I could feel the warmth of the sun.
-
I felt someone tap my shoulder.
-
I could feel him pulling my hair. [=I could feel that he was pulling my hair]
-
Do you feel a draft?
-
I'm the kind of person who really feels the heat/cold. [=hot/cold weather bothers me more than it bothers most people]
2
[linking verb]
— used to describe or ask about someone's physical or mental state
-
I feel dizzy/faint.
-
How are you feeling today? = How do you feel today?
-
I feel bad/good/sick/well/fine.
-
I hope you feel better soon. [=I hope you will stop feeling ill soon]
-
He's been feeling a little depressed lately.
-
You can feel proud of what you've accomplished.
-
I feel responsible for the accident. [=I feel that I was responsible for the accident; I feel that the accident was my fault]
-
I feel confident that we'll win.
-
You may feel different tomorrow. [=your mood/thinking may change tomorrow]
-
She felt hurt by their indifference.
-
I feel certain/sure that we can solve these problems.
-
I feel like a fool. = (chiefly Brit) I feel a fool.
-
I didn't feel like myself yesterday. = I didn't feel myself yesterday. [=I didn't feel well yesterday]
-
I feel as if/though I'm falling. = (informal) I feel like I'm falling.
-
(You can) Feel free to leave whenever you like. [=you are free to leave whenever you like]
◊ If you feel like doing something, you want to do it.
-
Do you feel like (taking) a walk?
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I feel like crying.
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“Why won't you come?” “Because I don't feel like it.”
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He does whatever he feels like (doing).
-
I don't feel like talking about it. [=I don't want to talk about it]
3
a
[+ object]
:
to touch (something) with your fingers to see what it is like
-
She felt the fabric to see if it was wool.
b
[+ object]
:
to find (something) by touching with your fingers
-
Your ribs are bruised, but I don't feel any broken bones.
c
[no object]
:
to search for something by reaching or touching usually with your fingers
— often + for
— often + around or (Brit) about
-
The doctor felt for any possible fractures in the patient's bruised ribs.
-
He felt for the switch.
-
He felt around in the dark for the light switch.
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He felt around under the table with his foot.
d
not used in progressive tenses,
[linking verb]
— used to describe the quality that something has when it is touched
-
This feels like wool (to me)—but it may not be.
-
The silk feels smooth (to me).
4
[+ object]
:
to believe or think (something)
-
He feels that they behaved badly.
-
They felt (that) it would be foolish to continue.
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I feel (that) I really ought to say something.
-
He felt it necessary to say something. = He felt that it was necessary to say something.
5
[no object]
:
to have an opinion
-
How do you feel about this proposal? [=what do you think of this proposal; what is your opinion of this proposal?]
-
Their votes reflect how they feel toward poor people.
◊ If you feel strongly, you have a strong or definite opinion about something.
-
We feel (very) strongly that they've been treated unfairly.
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If you feel that strongly (about it), we won't go.
6
[+ object]
:
to be aware of (something) in your mind or emotions
-
He felt his son's ingratitude, and he resented it.
-
She could feel [=sense] the presence of an intruder in the house.
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I feel the urge to speak.
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I feel the need to try again. [=I think I/we should try again]
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I feel your pain. [=I am aware of how (much) you must have suffered]
7
[+ object]
a
:
to experience the effect of (something)
-
He felt the medicine starting to work.
-
I'm really feeling my age lately. [=I am feeling the effects of growing older]
b
:
to experience (something)
-
Many people will feel the impact of this decision. [=many people will be affected by this decision]
-
I felt pleasure in her company. [=I enjoyed being with her]
-
He felt no remorse for what he had done.
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She feels contempt for her political enemies.
c
:
to be hurt by (something)
-
They felt the insult deeply. [=they were deeply hurt by the insult]
-
She felt the loss/death of her mother.
8
not used in progressive tenses
[linking verb]
a
— used to describe the quality that something has or the feeling that something causes
-
It just doesn't feel [=seem] right to be doing this.
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It feels like spring today.
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It feels strange that I'm here again. = It feels strange to be here again.
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This place really feels like home.
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It feels as if it's going to rain. = (chiefly US) It feels like rain.
b
:
to have a specified physical quality
-
My eyes feel dry.
-
His hands felt cool.
feel for
[phrasal verb]
feel for (someone)
:
to have sympathy or pity for (someone)
—
see also 1feel 3c (above)
-
I feel (deeply) for you, but there's nothing I can do to help.
feel no pain
chiefly US, informal
:
to be drunk
-
He had been at the bar for several hours and he was clearly feeling no pain. [=he was very drunk]
feel out
[phrasal verb]
feel (someone) out
:
to talk to or question (someone) in an indirect way in order to find out if something you want to do or get will be possible
-
He tried to feel us out to see if we'd loan him more money.
feel up
[phrasal verb]
feel (someone) up
or
feel up (someone)
informal
:
to touch (someone) for sexual pleasure
-
She says he felt her up.
feel your best
feel your oats
feel your way
1
:
to move forward carefully by putting your hands in front of you so that you can feel anything that blocks you
-
He felt his way through the darkened room.
2
:
to move toward a goal very slowly and carefully
-
In the early days of the project they were just feeling their way (along), trying not to make mistakes.
2
feel
/ˈfiːl/
noun
2
feel
/ˈfiːl/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of FEEL
[singular]
1
a
:
the quality of a thing that is experienced by touching it
-
It had a greasy feel. [=it felt greasy]
-
the feel of old leather
b
:
a particular quality
-
The restaurant's decor has an Asian feel (to/about it).
-
Although the table is brand-new, it has the look and feel of an antique.
2
a
:
an understanding of something
— usually + for
-
We walked around to get the feel of the town. [=to find out what the town was like]
-
We walked around to get a feel for the town.
-
After living in France for 20 years, she has a feel for the way the French think.
-
We're trying to get a feel for what's needed.
b
:
an ability to use something or do something in a skillful way
— usually + for
-
He's been practicing for several weeks and he's starting to get a feel for the instrument.
-
She has a feel for language.
3
:
a feeling or sensation
-
He liked the feel of the sun on his face.
4
British
:
an act of feeling or touching something
-
They had a feel of the old leather. [=they felt the old leather]
by feel
1
:
by feeling with your hands when you cannot see
-
It was too dark too see anything, so she had to find the door knob by feel.
2
:
by being guided by your physical feelings, your senses, etc., instead of by rules or directions
-
an athlete who plays by feel
