What does "feel" mean?

1. (emotions/physical state) to experience a particular physical or emotional state. 2. (opinion) to have a particular opinion or belief about something. 3. (to understand) to understand or agree with what someone is saying. 4. (texture/quality) the way something feels when you touch it. 5. (atmosphere) the general mood or character of a place or situation. 6. (natural ability) a natural ability to do something well or understand it.

Is it correct to say "I am feeling happy."?

No — say "I feel happy.". While 'feeling' is common in spoken English, 'feel' is a stative verb and usually takes the simple present for general states.

feel

US //ˈfiɫ// UK //fˈiːl// feel

1 emotions/physical state (v.)
A1 Beginner

to experience a particular physical or emotional state.

to experience an internal physical sensation or an emotional state. Often used as a linking verb followed by an adjective.

Example

I feel tired after working in the garden all afternoon.

Example

She began to feel increasingly anxious as the deadline approached, despite having completed the majority of the required research.
- experience
- suffer
Pitfall

I 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.
2 opinion (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to have a particular opinion or belief about something.

to hold a particular belief, often based on intuition or emotion rather than objective fact. Frequently takes a 'that' clause.

Example

I feel that we should wait for more information before deciding.

Example

Many residents feel that the new housing development will negatively impact the character of the historic village center.

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3 to understand (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal American English Slang

to understand or agree with what someone is saying.

to empathize with or fully comprehend a person's perspective or situation.

Example

I totally feel you; that situation sounds really difficult.

Example

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.
4 texture/quality (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the way something feels when you touch it.

the tactile quality or texture of a material; the physical sensation produced by contact.

Example

The fabric has a smooth, silky feel against the skin.

Example

The interior designer selected a matte paint to give the walls a more sophisticated, velvety feel under the gallery lighting.
5 atmosphere (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the general mood or character of a place or situation.

the general atmosphere, character, or impression conveyed by an environment or creative work.

Example

The small café has a very friendly, local feel.

Example

The director managed to capture the authentic feel of 1920s London through meticulous attention to costume and set design.
6 natural ability (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a natural ability to do something well or understand it.

an intuitive understanding or natural aptitude for a particular activity or subject. Usually follows the preposition 'for'.

Example

She has a real feel for languages and learned Spanish in months.

Example

After years of practice, the mechanic developed a feel for the engine, often identifying faults simply by listening to the vibrations.

Etymology 1

From Middle English felen, from Old English fēlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan.

Etymology 2

See fele.

Idioms8 entries