feel the burn

verb

To feel the burning sensation arising in a muscle being intensely exercised; often used as an exhortation to extend oneself in physical exercise.

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Meanings

verbfeel the burn (third-person singular simple present feels the burn, present participle feeling the burn, simple past and past participle felt the burn)

present singular third person feels the burn · participle present feeling the burn · participle past felt the burn · past felt the burn

  1. hobbiesTo feel the burning sensation arising in a muscle being intensely exercised; often used as an exhortation to extend oneself in physical exercise.

    “Feel the burn!” Norm says, as Peoria lies over on a reverse lateral pulley system, ass up high, knees jerking back with the weight of fifty-five pounds.

    2014, Michael Hastings, The Last Magazine, Penguin, →ISBN
  2. lifestyleTo feel the vaginal or anal pleasure or burn felt during sexual intercourse.

Origin

The phrase was popularized by actress Jane Fonda in her highly successful 1980s aerobic exercise videotapes.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

feel the burn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feel%20the%20burn

MLA

“feel the burn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feel%20the%20burn. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “feel the burn,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feel%20the%20burn.

Source: feel the burn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.