feel

noun singular

UK /fiːl/

1
the way that something seems when you touch it or when it touches you
I love the feel of this jacket.
Ben was enjoying the feel of the breeze in his hair.
Synonyms and related words
General words for texture
texture
finish
feel
2
the way that something such as a place generally seems to you
The village has a lovely friendly feel.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
3
an act of touching someone or something
Synonyms and related words
Instances of touching, holding and physical contact
touch
contact
hold

phrases

get a feel for something

have a feel for something

feel

noun singular

US /fil/

1
the way that something seems when you touch it or when it touches you
I love the feel of this jacket.
Ben was enjoying the feel of the breeze in his hair.
Synonyms and related words
General words for texture
texture
finish
feel
2
the way that something such as a place generally seems to you
The town has a nice friendly feel.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
3
an act of touching someone or something
Synonyms and related words
Instances of touching, holding and physical contact
touch
contact
hold

phrases

get a feel for something

have a feel for something

feel

verb

UK /fiːl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	feel
he/she/it	feels
present participle	feeling
past tense	felt
past participle	felt

1
linking verb to be in a particular state as a result of an emotion or a physical feeling
I was feeling quite cheerful when we set out.
Sam felt cold and utterly miserable.
Are you feeling ill?
I don’t feel very well.
How do you feel now?
I feel such a fool for believing him.
He never felt at ease with interviewers or photographers.
feel like:
When I came back to England, I felt like a stranger.
feel as if/as though:
I felt as though someone had just punched me in the stomach.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
1. 1a
  transitive to experience a particular emotion or physical feeling
  feel sadness/happiness/anger/relief etc:
  She felt some sadness when the time came to leave.
  feel guilt/remorse:
  Richard felt no guilt at all for what he had done.
  feel the need to do something:
  Cara felt the need to talk to someone.
  feel (a) pain:
  He felt a sudden pain in his chest.
  feel the cold/heat:
  Children don’t seem to feel the cold as much as adults do.
  Synonyms and related words
  To feel an emotion
  feel
  experience
  give up to
2
linking verb not usually progressiveif something feels nice, good, strange etc, it gives you this feeling
It felt strange being on my own again.
It certainly felt good to be back home.
feel like/as if/as though:
The clock said it was only eight o’clock but it felt like midnight.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
3
transitive to touch something with your hand so that you can discover what it is like
She felt the child’s forehead to see if he was feverish.
Feel this scarf – it’s incredibly soft!
Synonyms and related words
To touch, or to pick up someone or something
touch
pick up
handle
1. 3a
  linking verb not usually progressiveif something feels soft, hard etc, that is what it is like when you touch it
  Your hair feels so soft.
  feel like:
  The table felt like plastic, not wood.
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
4
transitive not usually progressiveto notice something that is touching you or something that is happening to your body
Can you feel the draught coming from under the door?
I could feel his hot breath on my neck.
feel someone/something do something:
I suddenly felt something brush against my arm.
feel someone/something doing something:
I felt him pulling against me.
feel yourself do/doing something:
Donna felt herself dozing and sat upright.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
1. 4a
  to notice something that you know is there but cannot see, hear, touch, or smell
  Sarah could feel the man’s presence before she saw him.
  feel (that):
  I felt I was being watched.
  Synonyms and related words
  To notice or recognize something or someone
  notice
  recognize
  observe
5
intransitive/transitive not usually progressiveto have a particular way of thinking about something, especially one that depends on your emotions rather than on facts or evidence
feel (that):
I feel that more should be done to help young people.
feel about:
I don’t know how Mary feels about eating meat.
feel strongly about something:
I know that Sally feels quite strongly about this issue.
feel something (to be) something:
We felt it an appropriate gesture in the circumstances.
feel it appropriate/necessary/important etc to do something:
He always felt it necessary to explain his actions.
Synonyms and related words
To have an opinion or opinions
think
believe in
say
6
transitive to be affected by something
feel the effects/repercussions/benefits etc of something:
People should feel the benefits of the tax cuts by next month.
feel someone’s death:
I’m sure we all feel his death very keenly.
Synonyms and related words
To experience something
experience
undergo
encounter
7
intransitive to try to find something with your hands, especially because you cannot see clearly
feel around/about:
I felt around on the ground but couldn’t find the torch.
feel (around/about) for someone/something:
Adam felt in the pocket of his shorts for the key.
Synonyms and related words
To search for something or someone
go through
look out for
seek out

phrases

feel free

feel like

feel your age

feel your way

not feel yourself

phrasal verbs

feel for

feel out

feel up

feel up to

feel

verb

US /fil/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	feel
he/she/it	feels
present participle	feeling
past tense	felt
past participle	felt

1
linking verb to be in a particular state as a result of an emotion or a physical feeling
I was feeling very happy when we began our trip.
Sam felt cold and utterly miserable.
Are you feeling sick?
I don’t feel very well.
How do you feel now?
I feel such a fool for believing him.
He never felt at ease with interviewers or photographers.
feel like:
When I came back to England, I felt like a stranger.
feel as if/as though:
I felt as though someone had just punched me in the stomach.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
1. 1a
  transitive to experience a particular emotion or physical feeling
  feel sadness/happiness/anger/relief etc.:
  She felt some sadness when the time came to leave.
  feel guilt/remorse:
  Richard felt no guilt at all for what he had done.
  feel the need to do something:
  Cara felt the need to talk to someone.
  feel (a) pain:
  He felt a sudden pain in his chest.
  feel the cold/heat:
  Children don’t seem to feel the cold as much as adults do.
  Synonyms and related words
  To feel an emotion
  feel
  experience
  give up to
2
intransitive/transitive not usually progressiveto have a particular way of thinking about something, especially one that depends on your emotions rather than on facts or evidence
feel (that):
I feel that more should be done to help young people.
feel strongly about something:
I know that Sally feels quite strongly about this issue.
feel about:
I don’t know how Mary feels about eating meat.
feel something (to be) something:
We felt it an appropriate gesture in the circumstances.
feel it appropriate/necessary/important etc. to do something:
He always felt it necessary to explain his actions.
Synonyms and related words
To have an opinion or opinions
think
believe in
say
3
transitive to touch something with your hand so that you can discover what it is like
She felt the child’s forehead to see if he was feverish.
Feel this scarf, it’s incredibly soft!
Synonyms and related words
To touch, or to pick up someone or something
touch
pick up
handle
1. 3a
  linking verb not usually progressiveif something feels soft, hard, etc., that is what it is like when you touch it
  Your hair feels so soft.
  feel like:
  The table felt like plastic, not wood.
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
4
transitive not usually progressiveto notice something that is touching you or something that is happening to your body
Can you feel the draft coming from under the door?
I could feel his hot breath on my neck.
feel someone/something do something:
I suddenly felt something brush against my arm.
feel someone/something doing something:
I felt him pulling against me.
feel yourself do/doing something:
Donna felt herself dozing off and sat upright.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
1. 4a
  to notice something that you know is there but cannot see, hear, touch, or smell
  Sarah could feel the man’s presence before she saw him.
  feel (that):
  I felt I was being watched.
  Synonyms and related words
  To notice or recognize something or someone
  notice
  recognize
  observe
5
transitive to be affected by something
feel the effects/repercussions/benefits etc. of something:
People should feel the benefits of the tax cuts by next year.
feel someone’s death:
I’m sure we all feel his death very keenly.
Synonyms and related words
To experience something
experience
undergo
encounter
6
linking verb not usually progressiveif something feels nice, good, strange, etc., it gives you this feeling
It felt strange being on my own again.
It certainly felt good to be back home.
feel like/as if/as though:
The clock said it was only eight o’clock but it felt like midnight.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
7
intransitive to try to find something with your hands, especially because you cannot see clearly
feel around:
I felt around on the ground but couldn’t find the flashlight.
feel (around) for someone/something:
Adam felt in the pocket of his shorts for the key.
Synonyms and related words
To search for something or someone
go through
look out for
seek out

phrases

feel free

feel like

feel your age

feel your way

not feel yourself

phrasal verbs

feel for

feel out

feel up

feel up to

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