feel

present singular third person feels · participle present feeling · participle past felt · past felt · first person past singular felt · archaic present second person singular feelest · past second person singular felt · archaic past second person singular feltst · archaic past second person singular feltest · present singular third person feels · archaic present singular third person feeleth · past singular third person felt · past plural felt · past subjunctive felt · participle present feeling · participle past felt

1. To use or experience the sense of touch.
   1. copulativetransitiveheadingTo become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.

      I felt cold and miserable all night.

      2 more examples

      You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.

      I did feel a complete fool after stumbling on the same rock again.

   2. transitiveheadingTo find one's way (literally or figuratively) by touching or using cautious movements.

      I felt my way through the darkened room.

      1 more example

      I felt my way cautiously through the dangerous business maneuver.

   3. intransitiveheadingTo receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
   4. intransitiveheadingTo search by sense of touch.

      He felt (about) for the light switch in the dark.

2. To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally.
   1. transitiveheadingTo experience an emotion or other mental state about.

      I can feel the sadness in his poems.

      3 more examples

      Teach me to feel another's VVoe; / To hide the Fault I ſee; / That Mercy I to others ſhovv, / That Mercy ſhow to me.

      1738, [Alexander Pope], “Stanza X”, in The Universal Prayer. […], London [actually Edinburgh]: […] [Thomas Ruddiman] for R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 6

      Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

      1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

      British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far.

      2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

   2. transitiveheadingTo think, believe, or have an impression concerning.

      I feel that we need to try harder.

      3 more examples

      We felt it (to be) our duty to call the police.

      They promised me eternal happiness; And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel I am not worthy yet to wear.

      1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]

      When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.

      1963, Margery Allingham, chapter XIX, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   3. copulativeintransitiveheadingTo experience an emotion or other mental state.

      He obviously feels strongly about it.

      3 more examples

      She felt even more upset when she heard the details.

      I'm feeling really nervous about my finals.

      Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.

      1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   4. intransitiveheadingTo sympathize; to have the sensibilities moved or affected.

      I feel for you and your plight.

      2 more examples

      [She] feels with the dignity of a Roman matron.

      1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC

      who feel for all mankind

      1738, Alexander Pope, Epilogue to the Satires

3. transitiveTo be or become aware of.
4. transitiveTo experience the consequences of.

   Feel my wrath!

5. copulativeTo seem (through touch or otherwise).

   It looks like wood, but it feels more like plastic.

   2 more examples

   It felt really strange to be back in my old kindergarten.

   This is supposed to be a party, but it feels more like a funeral!

6. USslangtransitiveTo understand.

   I don't want you back here, ya feel me?

   1 more example

   Shoot, errbody have the zipper jacket / And half of these thugs have the glove to match, ya feel me?

   2002, “Work It”, in Under Construction, performed by Missy Elliott

plural feels

1. archaicThe sense of touch.

   It begins as a firm elastic swelling, which communicates to the feel the idea that a fluid is contained under a firm fascia […]

   1838, John Burns, The Principles of Surgery, volume 1, page 330

2. A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch.

   Bark has a rough feel.

   2 more examples

   And then something in the sound or the feel of the waters made him look down, and he perceived that the ebb had begun and the tide was flowing out to sea.

   1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

   The unshanked snaffle bit is good for bending and getting a horse used to the feel of a bit.

   2010, Nathan Bowers, 4-H Guide to Training Horses, page 111

3. A vague mental impression.

   You should get a feel for the area before moving in.

   1 more example

   You can arrange camel trips into the desert but to really get a feel for this allow yourself a couple of extra days and be prepared for what at times can be an uncomfortable journey: Xuan Zang tells us that as he left Khotan he was ‘attacked by tornados which bring with them clouds of flying gravel’.

   2010, Paul Wilson, “Khotan (Hetian)”, in The Silk Roads: A Route & Planning Guide, 3rd edition (Travel), Trailblazer Publications, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 379

4. An act of fondling.

   She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.

5. A vague understanding.

   I'm getting a feel for what you mean.

6. An intuitive ability.

   She has a feel for music.

7. USslangA feeling; an emotion.

   I know that feel.

1. alternativedialectalobsoleteAlternative form of fele.

1. alternativedialectalnot comparableobsoleteAlternative form of fele.

1. alternativedialectalnot comparableobsoleteAlternative form of fele.