feeling
feeling — noun
1. something that you notice through your body, such as heat, cold, pain, or pressu
something that you notice through your body, such as heat, cold, pain, or pressure against your skin.
After sitting still for hours, Lien had a strange tingling feeling in her legs.
collocation: tingling feeling in
Piotr enjoyed the warm feeling of the sun on his skin after the long winter.
collocation: warm feeling of
Tariq felt a sudden burning feeling in his shoulder when he lifted the heavy box.
collocation: burning feeling
The doctor asked whether Ravindra had any feeling in his toes after the operation.
When Amihan touched the ice, a sharp cold feeling spread through her fingers.
adjective + feeling: sharp cold feeling
- tingling feeling
- burning feeling
- warm feeling
- cold feeling
- have no feeling in
- lose feeling in
- prickly feeling
- numbness
the lack of physical sensation
Grammar Patterns
feeling of + noun
feeling in + body part
Usage Note
Often used with an adjective describing the type of sensation (burning, tingling, warm, cold, sharp). The pattern 'have no feeling in + body part' is common for describing numbness.
Common Mistakes
2. an emotional state that you experience inside yourself, such as happiness, sadne
an emotional state that you experience inside yourself, such as happiness, sadness, anger, love, or fear.
A strong feeling of sadness came over Lien when she said goodbye to her old school friends.
collocation: feeling of sadness
Piotr could not hide his feelings of jealousy when his younger sister won the first prize.
collocation: feelings of jealousy
The feeling of relief that spread across the room when the lost child was found was clear to everyone.
Wren tried to keep her true feelings hidden, but her face gave everything away.
collocation: keep feelings hidden
Hao experienced a deep feeling of pride when his eldest son received the award at the ceremony.
collocation: deep feeling of pride
- feeling of sadness
- feeling of pride
- feeling of relief
- feelings of jealousy
- mixed feelings
- have feelings for
- hide your feelings
- strong feelings
- apathy
the absence of strong emotion or interest
Grammar Patterns
feeling of + emotion noun
feelings for/about + noun
Usage Note
Countable when referring to a specific emotion ('a feeling of anger'). Uncountable when talking about emotion in general ('a man of feeling'). Frequently followed by 'of' and an emotion noun.
Common Mistakes
3. the emotional reactions and sensitivities of other people, which you can affect
the emotional reactions and sensitivities of other people, which you can affect by what you say or do.
Eitan was very careful not to hurt his girlfriend's feelings when he told her the honest truth.
collocation: hurt someone's feelings
The manager spoke gently during the review, not wanting to offend anyone's feelings.
collocation: offend someone's feelings
Ravindra's parents tried to spare his feelings by not mentioning the mistake he had made.
collocation: spare someone's feelings
There were still some bad feelings between the two neighbours after the argument about the fence.
collocation: bad feelings between
Amihan carefully considered her cousin's feelings before suggesting any changes to the wedding plan.
collocation: consider someone's feelings
- hurt someone's feelings
- spare someone's feelings
- consider someone's feelings
- offend someone's feelings
- bad feelings between
- no hard feelings
- emotions
more neutral; feelings in this sense focuses on vulnerability and sensitivity
- sensibilities
much more formal; refers to someone's capacity for being emotionally affected
Grammar Patterns
someone's feelings
hurt/spare/consider someone's feelings
Usage Note
Almost always used as a plural noun ('feelings') in this sense. Common with verbs like hurt, spare, offend, consider, and respect. 'Bad feelings' or 'no hard feelings' refer to resentment between people.
Common Mistakes
4. a personal opinion or belief about something, often based on how you think or se
a personal opinion or belief about something, often based on how you think or sense the situation rather than on solid facts.
Lara shared her feelings about the new workplace rules during the team meeting on Monday.
collocation: share feelings about
My feeling is that the construction project will take at least one more year to finish.
pattern: my feeling is that + clause
Strong public feeling against the proposed tax increase was reported in the local newspaper.
collocation: public feeling
Wren had a sinking feeling that she had accidentally left her passport on the hotel bed.
The committee asked all residents to express their feelings about the new park design before the vote.
collocation: express feelings about
- public feeling
- strong feeling against
- have a feeling that
- share your feelings about
- express feelings
- my feeling is that
- opinion
more formal and based more on reasoning; 'feeling' is more intuitive
- belief
stronger conviction than a feeling
- impression
closer to feeling; a first or general idea without detailed analysis
- notion
a vaguer, more uncertain idea
Grammar Patterns
have a feeling that
feeling about/on + noun
express/share your feelings
Usage Note
Often used with a that-clause to express a prediction or suspicion ('I have a feeling that something is wrong'). 'Public feeling' is a common uncountable use referring to the general opinion of many people.
Common Mistakes
5. the general mood or character that you sense in a place, event, or situation, cr
the general mood or character that you sense in a place, event, or situation, created by its appearance, sounds, and activity.
The old castle on the hill had an eerie, dark feeling that made the visitors speak in whispers.
adjective + feeling: eerie feeling
Soft candles and gentle music gave the small restaurant a warm and romantic feeling.
collocation: give + place + a + adjective + feeling
The feeling of the whole city changed completely once the festival began in the main square.
collocation: the feeling of + place
Walking into the empty school during summer break, Lien noticed a strange, lonely feeling in the hallways.
- warm feeling
- eerie feeling
- romantic feeling
- strange feeling
- the feeling of a place
- give a feeling of
- atmosphere
more objective; what the place is like rather than how it makes you feel
- mood
similar but mood often refers to the state of the people in the space, not the space itself
- vibe
informal; very close in meaning but less precise
Grammar Patterns
the feeling of + noun
a + adjective + feeling
Usage Note
Almost always singular in this sense. Describe the feeling with an adjective (eerie, warm, festive, lonely). 'The feeling of a place' overlaps with 'atmosphere' but feeling is more subjective — how the place makes you feel personally.
6. a natural ability to understand, appreciate, or judge something well without nee
a natural ability to understand, appreciate, or judge something well without needing to think about it deliberately.
Tariq has a natural feeling for foreign languages and can learn new ones very quickly.
collocation: have a feeling for
A good fashion designer needs a strong feeling for colour, shape, and fabric to create beautiful clothes.
Hao lost his feeling for the rhythm of the piano music after he stopped practising every single day.
collocation: lose your feeling for
Ravindra's deep feeling for what the audience wanted made him one of the most popular performers in the country.
collocation: feeling for what/how
- have a feeling for
- natural feeling for
- strong feeling for
- deep feeling for
- lose your feeling for
- feeling for language
Grammar Patterns
have a feeling for + noun
a feeling for + noun
Usage Note
This sense is uncountable and always singular. It is typically followed by 'for' + noun (a feeling for music, a feeling for design). 'Lose your feeling for' indicates a skill fading through lack of practice.
Common Mistakes
no hard feelings
idiomused to tell someone that you are not angry or upset after an argument or disagreement, and you still want to be friendly.
After the game, Tariq shook his opponent's hand and said, 'Good match — no hard feelings, I hope.'
The two business partners decided to end their deal but agreed there would be no hard feelings between them.
a sinking feeling
idioman unpleasant feeling you get when you suddenly realize something bad has happened or is about to happen.
When Lien saw the empty car park, she had a sinking feeling that she had missed the last bus home.
Hao felt that sinking feeling in his stomach when he checked his bank account online that morning.
to avoid saying or doing something that might upset or offend someone.
Amihan decided to spare her younger brother's feelings by not mentioning that his haircut looked funny.
The teacher tried to spare the student's feelings by giving feedback in a very gentle and private way.
bad/ill feeling
idiomAnger or dislike between people, often after a disagreement.
The argument caused bad feeling between the two friends.
Is there any ill feeling left after the election?
A sudden bad feeling that something bad is happening or will happen.
When I saw the empty wallet, I had a sinking feeling.
Did you get that sinking feeling when the doorbell rang?
To avoid saying or doing something that might upset someone.
Maya didn't mention the accident to spare his feelings.
Should we tell her the truth or spare her feelings?
feeling — adjective
1. able to experience physical sensations such as pain, cold, or pleasure; having p
able to experience physical sensations such as pain, cold, or pleasure; having physical awareness.
Many people now believe that certain intelligent sea animals are feeling beings that deserve legal protection.
collocation: feeling beings
The question of whether advanced machines could ever become feeling creatures is a common topic in science fiction.
collocation: feeling creatures
Scientists debate at what stage a human embryo becomes a feeling organism capable of sensing pain.
Animal rights groups argue that fish are feeling beings that can suffer when caught on a hook.
- feeling being
- feeling creature
- feeling organism
- insentient
not able to feel physical sensations
Grammar Patterns
feeling + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used attributively (before a noun) in formal or philosophical contexts. Often paired with nouns like 'being', 'creature', or 'organism'. Not used in everyday conversation.
2. having strong emotions and being easily affected by emotional situations or the
having strong emotions and being easily affected by emotional situations or the suffering of others.
Piotr was such a feeling child that he would cry at every sad story he heard in class.
collocation: feeling child/person
Ravindra's feeling nature made him an especially kind and understanding doctor for his young patients.
collocation: feeling nature
Fatima's feeling heart could not turn away any stray animal that appeared at her garden gate.
attributive: feeling heart — literary register
The nurse admired how the feeling young teacher comforted the upset children after the fire drill.
- feeling person
- feeling nature
- feeling heart
Grammar Patterns
a feeling person
Usage Note
Somewhat dated or literary in modern English. More common in written narratives than in everyday speech. A 'feeling person' is someone who experiences emotions deeply. Overlaps with 'sensitive' but implies stronger emotional response.
3. showing strong and sincere emotion; experienced or expressed with deep emotional
showing strong and sincere emotion; experienced or expressed with deep emotional intensity.
Eitan delivered a deeply feeling speech at his mother's funeral that moved everyone in the room to tears.
adverb + feeling: deeply feeling speech
Wren wrote a feeling letter of gratitude to all the people who had supported her through her illness.
collocation: feeling letter
The old man gave his grandson a feeling look that expressed more love than any words ever could.
collocation: feeling look
Tariq's feeling farewell to his teammates moved even the toughest players to tears.
- feeling speech
- feeling letter
- feeling look
- deeply feeling
- heartfelt
more common in modern English; especially for apologies, thanks, condolences
- sincere
focuses on honesty rather than emotional intensity
- passionate
stronger and more energetic; feeling is gentler
- half-hearted
lacking sincere emotion or effort
Grammar Patterns
feeling + noun
Usage Note
Almost always attributive (before a noun). Common collocates: 'feeling speech', 'feeling letter', 'feeling look', 'feeling tribute'. Often modified by 'deeply' to strengthen the meaning. Can sound literary or old-fashioned.
4. communicating emotional depth and sensitivity through words, actions, or artisti
communicating emotional depth and sensitivity through words, actions, or artistic expression; full of emotional quality.
The painter's feeling brushstrokes revealed the sadness and loneliness she had felt while creating the work.
collocation: feeling brushstrokes
Amihan's feeling performance in the final scene of the play left every single person in the audience deeply moved.
collocation: feeling performance
The writer used feeling language to describe the war, making readers feel the fear and hope of the soldiers.
collocation: feeling language
The musician's feeling rendition of the folk song filled the hall with such warmth that nobody wanted to leave.
collocation: feeling rendition
- feeling performance
- feeling brushstrokes
- feeling language
- feeling expression
- expressive
focuses on the ability to show emotion; feeling implies the emotion is genuinely felt
- emotional
broader and more direct; feeling is more delicate and artistic
- moving
focuses on effect on the audience rather than the quality of the work itself
Grammar Patterns
feeling + noun
be + feeling
Usage Note
Used in artistic and literary criticism to describe works or performances that successfully communicate emotion. Not common in everyday speech. Overlaps with 'expressive' but 'feeling' suggests the emotion is genuine rather than skilfully displayed.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four words describe internal emotional states, but they differ in intensity, duration, and formality. 'Feeling' is the broadest and most personal — it refers to the immediate, subjective experience of an emotion inside you ('a warm feeling when you see an old friend'). 'Emotion' is more objective and scientific; it implies a stronger, more distinct mental state with physical reactions (anger, fear, joy). 'Sentiment' is more formal and often refers to attitudes shaped by emotion rather than the raw emotion itself ('patriotic sentiment'). 'Mood' describes a longer-lasting emotional tone that is less specific and less intense than a feeling or emotion — your mood colours how you see everything for hours or days. Example: 'She was in a sad mood all morning. The news stirred strong emotions in her. But her feeling was that everything would work out. Her sentiment was shared by many in the community.'
Common collocations
Prepositions
- feeling about
- feeling of
- feeling towards
- feeling for
- feeling in
Etymology
The word 'feeling' comes from Old English 'fēling', the noun form of 'fēlan' (to feel). This traces back through Proto-Germanic '*fōlijaną' (to feel, to touch) to the Proto-Indo-European root '*pel-' (to feel, to touch, to strike). The noun appears in Old English around the 12th century, originally meaning 'the sense of touch' or 'the act of touching'. By the 14th century it had extended to emotional and mental states. The adjective use ('a feeling person') developed in the 16th century. Modern English has broadened 'feeling' to cover physical sensation, emotion, opinion, and intuitive understanding — a flexibility rooted in the word's long history of linking physical touch with emotional experience.