English Reference
noun · adjective

feeling

n. · adj.
US /ˈfiɫɪŋ/ UK /fˈiːlɪŋ/ feel·ing UK spelling feelings

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  5. 05 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

    unfeelingcallous

Usage feeling less · feeling a similar · feeling like


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

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

This entry
Origin Middle English felynge
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated