feel
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to experience a particular physical or emotional state.
v.to experience an internal physical sensation or an emotional state. Often used as a linking verb followed by an adjective.
Simple“I feel tired after working in the garden all afternoon.”
In context“She began to feel increasingly anxious as the deadline approached, despite having completed the majority of the required research.”
PitfallI am feeling happy. I feel happy.While 'feeling' is common in spoken English, 'feel' is a stative verb and usually takes the simple present for general states.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to have a particular opinion or belief about something.
v.to hold a particular belief, often based on intuition or emotion rather than objective fact. Frequently takes a 'that' clause.
Simple“I feel that we should wait for more information before deciding.”
In context“Many residents feel that the new housing development will negatively impact the character of the historic village center.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to understand or agree with what someone is saying.
v.to empathize with or fully comprehend a person's perspective or situation.
Simple“I totally feel you; that situation sounds really difficult.”
In context“I feel what you're saying about the lack of transparency, but I'm not sure we have the power to change the policy right now.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.the way something feels when you touch it.
n.the tactile quality or texture of a material; the physical sensation produced by contact.
Simple“The fabric has a smooth, silky feel against the skin.”
In context“The interior designer selected a matte paint to give the walls a more sophisticated, velvety feel under the gallery lighting.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the general mood or character of a place or situation.
n.the general atmosphere, character, or impression conveyed by an environment or creative work.
Simple“The small café has a very friendly, local feel.”
In context“The director managed to capture the authentic feel of 1920s London through meticulous attention to costume and set design.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a natural ability to do something well or understand it.
n.an intuitive understanding or natural aptitude for a particular activity or subject. Usually follows the preposition 'for'.
Simple“She has a real feel for languages and learned Spanish in months.”
In context“After years of practice, the mechanic developed a feel for the engine, often identifying faults simply by listening to the vibrations.”
Usage feel like · feel safe · feel less
“Perhaps this is what happens when so many of the guests are near-strangers who simply feel grateful for the invitation.”
“It was really hard for all of us to feel that this could be our last day.”
From Middle English felen, from Old English fēlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan.
See fele.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.