feeling

UK: /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ US: /ˈfilɪŋ/ ,(fē′ling)

From the verb feel: (⇒ conjugate)

feeling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

feel•ing /ˈfilɪŋ/   n. 

1. Physiology the function or the power of perceiving by touch:
   [uncountable] no feeling in his left hand.
2. a particular sensation of this kind:
   [countable] a feeling of warmth.
3. a consciousness or awareness:
   [countable] a feeling of inferiority.
4. an emotion or emotional attitude:
   [countable] a feeling of joy.
5. idea;
   thought:
   [countable] a feeling we were being watched.
6. a sentiment;
   attitude;
   opinion:
   [countable] a feeling in favor of the proposal.
7. feelings, [plural] the emotional side of a person;
   sensibilities:
   I didn't intend to hurt her feelings.
8. understanding;
   sympathetic perception:
   [uncountable] a poem without feeling.

adj. 

9. sensitive;
   readily affected by emotion;
   sympathetic:
   a feeling heart.
10. indicating or characterized by emotion:
    He gave a feeling reply to the charge.

feel•ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

feel•ing  (fē′ling), n. 

1. Physiology the function or the power of perceiving by touch.
2. Physiology physical sensation not connected with sight, hearing, taste, or smell.
3. a particular sensation of this kind:
   a feeling of warmth; a feeling of pain.
4. the general state of consciousness considered independently of particular sensations, thoughts, etc.
5. a consciousness or vague awareness:
   a feeling of inferiority.
6. an emotion or emotional perception or attitude:
   a feeling of joy; a feeling of sorrow.
7. capacity for emotion, esp. compassion:
   to have great feeling for the sufferings of others.
8. a sentiment;
   attitude;
   opinion:
   The general feeling was in favor of the proposal.
9. feelings, sensibilities;
   susceptibilities:
   to hurt one's feelings.
10. fine emotional endowment.
11. (in music, art, etc.)
    • emotion or sympathetic perception revealed by an artist in his or her work:
      a poem without feeling.
    • the general impression conveyed by a work:
      a landscape painting with a spacious feeling.
    • sympathetic appreciation, as of music:
      to play with feeling.

adj. 

12. sensitive;
    sentient.
13. readily affected by emotion;
    sympathetic:
    a feeling heart.
14. indicating or characterized by emotion:
    a feeling reply to the charge.

• 1125–75; Middle English; see feel, -ing¹, -ing²

feel′ing•ly, adv. 
feel′ing•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 5. .
  Feeling, emotion, passion, sentiment refer to pleasurable or painful sensations experienced when one is stirred to sympathy, anger, fear, love, grief, etc.
  Feeling is a general term for a subjective point of view as well as for specific sensations:
  to be guided by feeling rather than by facts; a feeling of sadness, of rejoicing.
  Emotion is applied to an intensified feeling:
  agitated by emotion.
  Passion is strong or violent emotion, often so overpowering that it masters the mind or judgment:
  stirred to a passion of anger.
  Sentiment is a mixture of thought and feeling, esp. refined or tender feeling:
  Recollections are often colored by sentiment.
• 6. . sympathy, empathy, tenderness, sensitivity, sentiment.
• 12. . emotional, tender.
• 13. . impassioned, passionate.

Antonyms

• 12. . cold.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

feeling / ˈfiːlɪŋ/ noun

1. the sense of touch
2. the ability to experience physical sensations, such as heat, pain, etc
3. the sensation so experienced
4. a state of mind
5. a physical or mental impression: a feeling of warmth
6. fondness; sympathy: to have a great deal of feeling for someone
7. a sentiment: a feeling that the project is feasible
8. an emotional disturbance, esp anger or dislike
9. sensibility in the performance of something
10. (plural) emotional or moral sensitivity, as in relation to principles or personal dignity (esp in the phrase hurt or injure the feelings of)
11. have feelings for ⇒ to be emotionally or sexually attracted to

adjective

1. sentient; sensitive
2. expressing or containing emotion

ˈfeelingly adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

feel /fil/   v., felt/fɛlt/  feel•ing, n. 
v. 

1. Physiology to perceive (something) by direct physical contact:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] I could feel a slight breeze.
2. to examine (something) by touch: [~ + object]
   I felt her forehead to see if she had a fever.
   [no object]
   I felt around in my pocket for a dime.
3. to find (one's way) by touching, groping, or cautious moves:
   [~ + object] I felt my way through the darkened room.
4. to experience the effects of;
   notice:
   [~ + object] The whole region felt the storm.
5. to have a particular sensation or impression of:
   [~ + oneself + verb(-ing)] I felt myself fly(ing) through the air. I felt my lips get(ting) dry.
6. to have a belief in;
   think:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + (that) clause] I feel he's guilty.
7. to perceive or experience a state of mind or a condition of body;
   to have a sensation of being;
   to become conscious of: [~ + object]
   She felt pride in her accomplishments.
   [~ + adjective]
   I'm feeling fine.
8. to make itself felt, noticed, or apparent;
   seem;
   to give off sensations:
   [not: be + ~-ing* ~ + adjective] Her head feels cold.
9. Dialect Terms feel for, [~ + for + object]
   • to feel sympathy for or compassion toward;
     empathize with:
     I felt for you when your car was stolen.
10. feel out, to try to determine the mood or status of (a person or situation) by discreet, usually informal or unofficial inquiries: [ ~ + out + obj]:
    We'll feel out the manager on your idea.
    [ ~ + obj + out]:
    to feel her out on the new idea.

n. [countable* usually singular]

11. a quality of an object perceived by feeling or touching:
    the feel of satin.
12. a sensation of something felt;
    vague mental impression or feeling:
    a feel of sadness in the air.
13. the sense of touch:
    soft to the feel.
14. native ability or acquired sensitivity:
    to have a feel for teaching.

Idioms

15. Idioms, Informal Terms feel like:
    • to have a desire for;
      be favorably disposed toward:
      I felt like screaming at them.
    • [it + ~ + like + object* not: be + ~-ing] to appear or seem like:
      It feels like rain.
16. Idioms feel (like) oneself, [no obj] to be in one's normal healthy and happy state:
    You'll feel like yourself again tomorrow.
17. Idioms feel up to, [ ~ + obj] to feel strong or healthy enough to:
    He's not feeling up to running today.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

feel  (fēl), v., felt, feel•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. Physiology to perceive or examine by touch.
2. Physiology to have a sensation of (something), other than by sight, hearing, taste, or smell:
   to feel a toothache.
3. to find or pursue (one's way) by touching, groping, or cautious moves.
4. to be or become conscious of.
5. to be emotionally affected by:
   to feel one's disgrace keenly.
6. to experience the effects of:
   The whole region felt the storm.
7. to have a particular sensation or impression of (often used reflexively and usually fol. by an adjunct or complement):
   to feel oneself slighted.
8. to have a general or thorough conviction of;
   think;
   believe:
   I feel he's guilty.

v.i. 

9. Physiology to have perception by touch or by any nerves of sensation other than those of sight, hearing, taste, and smell.
10. to make examination by touch;
    grope.
11. to perceive a state of mind or a condition of body:
    to feel happy; to feel well.
12. to have a sensation of being:
    to feel warm.
13. to make itself perceived or apparent;
    seem:
    How does it feel to be rich?
14. Dialect Terms feel for:
    • to feel sympathy for or compassion toward;
      empathize with:
      I know you're disappointed and upset, and I feel for you.
    • , Dialect Terms [Southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland.] to have a liking or desire for:
      If you feel for more pie, just help yourself.
15. Informal Terms feel like, to have a desire for;
    be favorably disposed to:
    I don't feel like going out tonight. Do you feel like a movie?
16. Idioms feel like oneself, to be in one's usual frame of mind or state of health:
    She hasn't been feeling like herself since the accident.
    Also, feel oneself. 
17. Informal Terms, Idioms feel no pain. See pain (def. 5).
18. feel out, to attempt to ascertain (the nature of a situation, someone's attitude, etc.) by indirect or subtle means:
    Why not feel out the other neighbors' opinions before you make a complaint.
19. feel up, Slang (vulgar). to fondle or touch (someone) in a sexual manner.
20. Informal Terms feel up to, to feel or be able to;
    be capable of:
    He didn't feel up to going to the theater so soon after his recent illness.

n. 

21. a quality of an object that is perceived by feeling or touching:
    the soft feel of cotton.
22. a sensation of something felt;
    a vague mental impression or feeling:
    a feel of winter; a feel of sadness in the air.
23. the sense of touch:
    soft to the feel.
24. native ability or acquired sensitivity:
    to have a feel for what is right.
25. Informal Terms an act or instance of touching with the hand or fingers.
26. Slang Terms (vulgar). an act or instance of feeling up.
27. Slang Terms, Idioms cop a feel, Slang (vulgar). to touch another person's body sexually, often in a quick and surreptitious way.

• bef. 900; Middle English felen, Old English fēlan; cognate with Old Saxon fōlian, German fühlen; akin to Old Norse falma to grope. See fumble

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

feel / fiːl/ verb (feels, feeling, felt / fɛlt/)

1. to perceive (something) by touching
2. to have a physical or emotional sensation of (something): to feel heat, to feel anger
3. (transitive) to examine (something) by touch
4. (transitive) to find (one's way) by testing or cautious exploration
5. (copula) to seem or appear in respect of the sensation given: I feel tired, it feels warm
6. to have an indistinct, esp emotional conviction; sense (esp in the phrase feel in one's bones)
7. (intransitive) followed by for: to show sympathy or compassion (towards): I feel for you in your sorrow
8. to believe, think, or be of the opinion (that)
9. (transitive) often followed by up: to pass one's hands over the sexual organs of
10. feel like ⇒ to have an inclination (for something or doing something): I don't feel like going to the cinema
11. feel up to ⇒ (usually used with a negative or in a question) to be fit enough for (something or doing something): I don't feel up to going out tonight

noun

1. the act or an instance of feeling, esp by touching
2. the quality of or an impression from something perceived through feeling: the house has a homely feel about it
3. the sense of touch
4. an instinctive aptitude; knack: she's got a feel for this sort of work
5. the feels ⇒ deeply felt emotions

Etymology: Old English fēlan; related to Old High German fuolen, Old Norse fālma to grope, Latin palma palm¹