Feel
English Meaning
To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs.
- To perceive through the sense of touch: feel the velvety smoothness of a peach.
- To perceive as a physical sensation: feel a sharp pain; feel the cold.
- To touch.
- To examine by touching. See Synonyms at touch.
- To test or explore with caution: feel one's way in a new job.
- To undergo the experience of: felt my interest rising; felt great joy.
- To be aware of; sense: felt the anger of the crowd.
- To be emotionally affected by: She still feels the loss of her dog.
- To be persuaded of (something) on the basis of intuition, emotion, or other indefinite grounds: I feel that what the informant says may well be true.
- To believe; think: She felt his answer to be evasive.
- To experience sensations of touch.
- To produce a particular sensation, especially through the sense of touch: The sheets felt smooth.
- To produce a particular impression; appear to be; seem: It feels good to be home. See Usage Note at well2.
- To be conscious of a specified kind or quality of physical, mental, or emotional state: felt warm and content; feels strongly about the election.
- To seek or explore something by the sense of touch: felt for the light switch in the dark.
- To have compassion or sympathy: I feel for him in his troubles.
- Perception by or as if by touch; sensation: a feel of autumn in the air.
- The sense of touch: a surface that is rough to the feel.
- An act or instance of touching or feeling.
- Vulgar An act or instance of sexual touching or fondling.
- The nature or quality of something as perceived by or as if by the sense of touch: "power steering that seems overassisted, eliminating road feel” ( Mark Ginsburg).
- Overall impression or effect; atmosphere: "gives such disparate pictures . . . a crazily convincing documentary feel” ( Stephen King).
- Intuitive awareness or natural ability: has a feel for decorating.
- feel out To try cautiously or indirectly to ascertain the viewpoint or nature of.
- feel up Vulgar To touch or fondle (someone) sexually.
- feel in (one's) bones To have an intuition of.
- feel like Informal To have an inclination or desire for: felt like going for a walk.
- feel like (oneself) To sense oneself as being in one's normal state of health or spirits: I just don't feel like myself today.
- feel (one's) oats To be energetic and playful.
- feel (one's) oats To act in a self-important manner.