emotion

emotion — noun

1. A particular strong feeling that a person experiences in reaction to something,

1.nounB1
Definition

A particular strong feeling that a person experiences in reaction to something, such as love, anger, fear, joy, or sadness.

Example

Hui felt a wave of emotions — part joy, part relief — when she saw her family at the airport.

plural emotions for mixed feelings

Grief is a powerful emotion that can take years to fully process.

countable: a + emotion + definition

Common collocations
  • strong emotion
  • deep emotion
  • mixed emotions
  • conflicting emotions
  • hide one's emotions
  • express one's emotions
  • control one's emotions
  • a wave of emotion(s)
Synonyms
  • feeling

    A broader, more neutral term that includes physical sensations and beliefs, not only strong reactions.

  • sentiment

    More formal; often refers to attitudes, opinions, or tender feelings rather than raw emotional reactions.

  • passion

    A much stronger, often overwhelming emotion, especially love, anger, or enthusiasm.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a/an + emotion (naming one feeling)

emotions (plural, for multiple or mixed feelings)

adjective + emotion (e.g. strong/deep/conflicting emotions)

Usage Note

Often used in the plural (emotions) when referring to several feelings at once. Common modifiers include strong, deep, mixed, conflicting, and difficult.

Common Mistakes

I was filled by emotion when I heard the news.
I was filled with emotion when I heard the news.
The correct preposition after 'filled' in this context is 'with', not 'by'.
She had a strong emotion about the decision.' (vague with 'a')
She had strong emotions about the decision.
Use the plural when the specific type of feeling is not named.

2. The general capacity to feel strong feelings, or the expression of such feelings

2.nounB1
Definition

The general capacity to feel strong feelings, or the expression of such feelings in a person's voice, face, or behaviour.

Example

Kemi spoke about her childhood with deep emotion in her voice.

uncountable: with + emotion

The witness gave her statement without any emotion, as if reading from a script.

Common collocations
  • with emotion
  • without emotion
  • full of emotion
  • show emotion
  • express emotion
  • raw emotion
  • deep emotion
  • devoid of emotion
Synonyms
  • feeling

    A broader term that includes both physical sensations and emotions.

  • passion

    Suggests very intense, often uncontrollable emotion.

Antonyms
  • stoicism

    The ability to endure hardship without showing emotion or complaining.

Grammar Patterns

uncountable emotion

with/without emotion

full of emotion

show/express emotion

Usage Note

Uncountable — does not take a/an or a plural -s. Common in phrases like with emotion, without emotion, full of emotion, and devoid of emotion.

Common Mistakes

She showed a strong emotion during her speech.
She showed strong emotion during her speech.
Do not use 'a/an' when referring to emotion as an uncountable general concept.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Emotion refers to a strong, often instinctive reaction such as love, anger, or fear. Feeling is the broadest term — it covers emotions, physical sensations, and even opinions ('I have a feeling this is wrong'). Sentiment is more formal and typically centres on tender or idealised attitudes ('public sentiment was against the war'); it often describes shared or socially shaped feelings rather than raw personal reactions. Passion is the strongest of the four — it suggests an intense, driving emotion that can overwhelm reason ('He spoke with such passion that the crowd fell silent'). In everyday speech, use feeling for general use, emotion when the reaction is specifically strong and internal, sentiment in formal writing about attitudes, and passion only when the intensity is unmistakable.

emotion ↗feeling ↗sentiment ↗passion ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • range of emotions
  • mixture of emotions
  • strength of emotion
  • wave of emotion
  • expression of emotion
  • display of emotion

Adverbs

Phrases

  • filled with emotion
  • overcome by emotion
  • choked with emotion
  • no trace of emotion

Prepositions

  • with emotion
  • without emotion
  • full of emotion
  • emotion about
  • emotion towards

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word emotion entered English in the 1500s from French émotion, which came from Latin emovēre — made up of ex- (out) and movēre (to move). So its original sense was 'a moving out' or 'a stirring up'. By the 1600s it had shifted to mean a strong feeling that 'moves' a person from within. Before emotion, English used 'passion' and 'affection' for similar ideas.