# feel

/ˈfiɫ/ (US) · /fˈiːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feel
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. emotions/physical state

verb · CEFR A1

to experience a particular physical or emotional state.

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

- I feel tired after working in the garden all afternoon.
- She began to feel increasingly anxious as the deadline approached, despite having completed the majority of the required research.

### 3. opinion

verb · CEFR B1

to have a particular opinion or belief about something.

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

- I feel that we should wait for more information before deciding.
- Many residents feel that the new housing development will negatively impact the character of the historic village center.

### 4. to understand

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English · Slang

to understand or agree with what someone is saying.

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

- I totally feel you; that situation sounds really difficult.
- 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.

### 5. texture/quality

noun · CEFR B1

the way something feels when you touch it.

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

- The fabric has a smooth, silky feel against the skin.
- The interior designer selected a matte paint to give the walls a more sophisticated, velvety feel under the gallery lighting.

### 6. atmosphere

noun · CEFR B2

the general mood or character of a place or situation.

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

- The small café has a very friendly, local feel.
- The director managed to capture the authentic feel of 1920s London through meticulous attention to costume and set design.

### 7. natural ability

noun · CEFR B2

a natural ability to do something well or understand it.

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

- She has a real feel for languages and learned Spanish in months.
- After years of practice, the mechanic developed a feel for the engine, often identifying faults simply by listening to the vibrations.

## Examples

- The fabric has a soft, smooth feel.
- The designer changed the lighting to give the restaurant a more modern feel.
- While the technical specifications are impressive, the camera lacks the solid, professional feel that experienced photographers usually look for in a primary device.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.