feel
A1Neutral (used in all registers from casual to formal)
Definition
Meaning
To experience a physical or emotional sensation.
To have a conscious experience (touch, emotion, opinion), or to give the impression of being a certain way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Covers both tangible (touch) and intangible (emotion) experiences. Can function as a copular verb (linking verb), similar to 'seem' or 'appear' (e.g., It feels soft). Also functions as a noun meaning a sensation or intuitive impression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Potential minor differences in colloquial phrases (e.g., 'feel like' + noun vs. 'feel like' + verb-ing). Spelling of derived forms (e.g., 'felt' is consistent).
Connotations
None significantly different.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feel + adjective (copular)feel + that-clause (opinion)feel + noun phrase (emotion)feel + noun phrase (touch)feel + like + noun/gerundfeel + object + verb-ing/bare infinitive (perception verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “feel the pinch”
- “feel your oats”
- “feel it in your bones”
- “get a feel for”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Expressing opinions or market sentiment (e.g., 'We feel the project is viable').
Academic
Used cautiously; often replaced with 'perceive', 'consider', or 'argue' for objectivity.
Everyday
Ubiquitous for describing emotions, physical states, and opinions.
Technical
In engineering/design: tactile feedback ('The material feels abrasive'). In medicine: palpation ('The doctor felt the lump').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I feel a bit poorly today.
- Do you feel up to going for a stroll?
- The fabric feels lovely and cosy.
American English
- I feel kinda sick today.
- Do you feel like going for a walk?
- The fabric feels soft and cozy.
adverb
British English
- She reached out feelingly for the light switch.
American English
- He spoke feelingly about his childhood.
adjective
British English
- It's a very feel-good film.
American English
- It's a very feel-good movie.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I feel happy.
- The cat feels soft.
- Do you feel cold?
- I feel that you should apologise.
- She felt the texture of the wood.
- He didn't feel like eating.
- The company is beginning to feel the effects of the recession.
- I feel strongly that we should reconsider.
- He felt his way carefully along the dark corridor.
- The electorate feels a profound sense of disillusionment with current politics.
- She felt the verdict to be a miscarriage of justice.
- He could feel the tension rising in the room.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large 'eel' that you have to FEEL in the dark water. The word starts with 'fee' like a payment you can physically touch.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION/UNDERSTANDING IS TOUCH (e.g., 'I feel your pain', 'felt the truth of her words', 'grasp a concept').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'feel' (испытывать ощущение/чувствовать) with 'touch' (трогать).
- Using 'feel yourself' (calque of чувствовать себя) which can have inappropriate connotations in English.
- Overusing 'I feel' where 'I think' or 'It seems' might be more idiomatic.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'feeled' instead of 'felt'.
- Missing copula: 'It feels beautifully' instead of 'It feels beautiful'.
- Confusing 'feel like' (want) with 'feel as if' (impression).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'feel' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes. It describes a state (emotion, sensation) and is not usually used in continuous forms for these meanings. However, it can be used in the continuous when actively exploring by touch (e.g., 'The doctor is feeling my stomach').
'Feel' describes a sensation ('I feel tired'). 'Feel like' is typically used for desires ('I feel like a coffee') or impressions ('It feels like rain').
No. The correct pattern is 'feel + adjective' (copular). The correct sentence is 'I feel happy.' Reflexive pronouns are not used with emotional states of the subject.
Not directly for emotions. For the perception verb meaning, it can be followed by an object + bare infinitive or verb-ing (e.g., 'I felt the ground shake' / 'I felt him watching me').
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.