feeling

noun

feel·ing | \ ˈfē-liŋ

Definition of feeling

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch

(2) : a sensation experienced through this sense

b : generalized bodily consciousness or sensation

c : appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition experience a feeling of safety

2a : an emotional state or reaction a kindly feeling toward the boy

b feelings plural : susceptibility to impression : sensitivity the remark hurt her feelings

3a : the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought

b : the overall quality of one's awareness

c : conscious recognition : sense

4a : often unreasoned opinion or belief : sentiment What are your feelings about this subject?

b : presentiment I have a feeling she's not going to like this.

5 : capacity to respond emotionally especially with the higher emotions found out how much feeling his mother really had

6 : the character ascribed to something : atmosphere The place had the feeling of a haunted house.

7a : the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist the feeling of the outdoors has been realized with sky-blue ceiling and natural colors — Playthings

b : sympathetic aesthetic response a person of fine feeling

8 : feel sense 4

feeling

adjective

Definition of feeling (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : sentient, sensitive

b : easily moved emotionally

2 obsolete : deeply felt

3 : expressing emotion or sensitivity

Other Words from feeling Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about feeling

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for feeling

Synonyms: Noun

Choose the Right Synonym for feeling

Noun

feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it. the feelings that once moved me are gone emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses. the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings. a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea. her feminist sentiments are well known passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion. revenge became his ruling passion

Examples of feeling in a Sentence

Noun I noticed tingling feelings in my fingers. She had a queasy feeling in her stomach. I had the feeling of something crawling across my foot. We enjoyed the feeling of walking barefoot in the sand. He had no feeling in his right leg. He's been troubled by feelings of guilt. There's no point in trying to hide your feelings. He spoke with feeling about the injustice he had seen. Have you no feeling for the plight of the homeless? I can see that you have strong feelings about this subject.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But becoming a state champion in his home state left Lemley with a different feeling. — Dave Melton, chicagotribune.com, "Crown Point’s Jesse Mendez wants to be a four-time state champion. He had to win No. 3 first. He did it with a pin at 138 pounds.," 21 Feb. 2021 This feeling gets a lot more real on the ride to the glacier. — Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, "The ride to Knik Glacier is glorious right now, but make sure you’re fat-bike fit before you go," 20 Feb. 2021 Mourner Pytor, there from a sense of duty rather than real feeling, squirms uncomfortably. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "New opera poignantly puts life in death | Review," 20 Feb. 2021 Ever get the feeling like you're being watched ... on your phone? — Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, "Daily Money 02-18-21," 18 Feb. 2021 Of course the protocols are there for your own good, but everyone struggles with feeling like you’re being repressed or not being yourself, or going against your own instincts as a human being. — New York Times, "‘Outlander’ Star Sam Heughan Wants You to Love Scotland, Too," 17 Feb. 2021 Kerr has used those lessons learned from Olson to try to create a similar feeling on the Warriors. — Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors' Steve Kerr recalls meeting with Lute Olson that changed his life," 13 Feb. 2021 The feeling from the line of people at the yellow trailer seems to be mutual. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Lobster rolls at San Antonio food truck Masshole are so good they sell out in a couple of hours," 12 Feb. 2021 And what better way to do that than with people that create raw, organic thought and feeling from nothing? — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Lucky Daye's Table for Two Duets Are Not Your Typical Valentine's Day Songs," 12 Feb. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feeling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about feeling

From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries near feeling

Statistics for feeling

Last Updated

25 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Feeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeling. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for feeling

feeling

noun

English Language Learners Definition of feeling

: an awareness by your body of something in it or on it

: an emotional state or reaction

: thoughts of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.

See the full definition for feeling in the English Language Learners Dictionary

feeling

noun

feel·ing | \ ˈfē-liŋ

Kids Definition of feeling

1 : the sense by which a person knows whether things are hard or soft, hot or cold, heavy or light

2 : a sensation of temperature or pressure a feeling of cold a feeling of pain

3 : a state of mind a feeling of joy

4 feelings plural : the state of a person's emotions … she did not want her father's feelings hurt.— Beverly Cleary, Ramona Quimby

5 : an opinion, belief, or expectation I have the feeling we've met before.

feeling

noun

feel·ing | \ ˈfē-liŋ

Medical Definition of feeling

1a : the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic : touch

b : a sensation experienced through this sense

2 : an emotional state or reaction guilt feelings

3 : the overall quality of one's awareness especially as measured along a pleasantness-unpleasantness continuum

Keep scrolling for more