English Reference

Word

feeling

Phoneticsfeel·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈfiɫɪŋ/

UK/fˈiːlɪŋ/

Definitions

01emotion

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. an emotion that you experience, such as happiness, sadness, or anger.

n. an emotional state or reaction; a conscious subjective experience of emotion.

“She had a strong feeling of joy when she saw her old friend.”

“The music evoked a profound feeling of nostalgia among the older members of the audience, reminding them of their youth.”

Synonyms

02physical sensation

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the ability to feel things through your skin or body.

n. the physical power of sensation; the tactile capacity to perceive through touch.

“I lost all feeling in my toes because of the freezing cold weather.”

“After the local anaesthetic was administered, the patient reported a complete loss of feeling in the affected area.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03opinion or attitude

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. an opinion or belief about something that is not based on facts alone.

n. a belief, judgment, or attitude, often based on intuition rather than objective evidence.

“My feeling is that we should wait a few days before deciding.”

“The general feeling among the board members was that the merger should be postponed until the market stabilised.”

04intuition

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a guess or a sense that something is true, even if you cannot explain why.

n. an intuitive perception or 'gut' instinct regarding a situation or future event.

“I had a strange feeling that I was being watched in the park.”

“Despite the lack of physical evidence, the detective had a persistent feeling that the witness was withholding crucial information.”

Synonyms

05sensitive or sympathetic

C1 · Advanced Literary

adj. showing that you understand and care about other people's emotions.

adj. characterised by or showing great sensitivity, emotion, or empathy.

“He gave a feeling speech about the importance of helping others.”

“The pianist delivered a deeply feeling performance, capturing the delicate melancholy of the composer's final work.”

Antonyms

unfeelingcallous

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “feeling” in context.

01. feeling less 02. feeling a similar 03. feeling like 04. negative feeling 05. positive feeling 06. reduce feeling 07. report feeling

Etymology

From Middle English felynge, equivalent to feel + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

feeling(A1)

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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English Reference