ENGLISH
REFERENCE

feeling

n. · adj.
US //ˈfiɫɪŋ// UK //fˈiːlɪŋ// feel·ing
  1. 1 emotion (n.)
    A1 Beginner

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The music evoked a profound feeling of nostalgia among the older members of the audience, reminding them of their youth.
  2. 2 physical sensation (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the ability to feel things through your skin or body.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    After the local anaesthetic was administered, the patient reported a complete loss of feeling in the affected area.
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  1. 3 opinion or attitude (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The general feeling among the board members was that the merger should be postponed until the market stabilised.
  2. 4 intuition (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Despite the lack of physical evidence, the detective had a persistent feeling that the witness was withholding crucial information.
  3. 5 sensitive or sympathetic (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

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

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

Idioms1 entry

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