1feel 
/ˈfi:l/ verb
feels; felt /ˈfi:l/ verb /ˈfɛlt/; feel·ing 1 [+ obj] : to be aware of (something that affects you physically, such as pain, heat, or an object touching your body)
▪ He felt a sudden pain in his leg. ▪ I could feel the warmth of the sun. ▪ I felt someone tap my shoulder. ▪ I could feel him pulling my hair. [=I could feel that he was pulling my hair] ▪ Do you feel a draft? ▪ I'm the kind of person who really feels the heat/cold. [=hot/cold weather bothers me more than it bothers most people] 2 [linking verb] — used to describe or ask about someone's physical or mental state ▪ I feel dizzy/faint. ▪ How are you feeling today? = How do you feel today? ▪ I feel bad/good/sick/well/fine. ▪ I hope you feel better soon. [=I hope you will stop feeling ill soon] ▪ He's been feeling a little depressed lately. ▪ You can feel proud of what you've accomplished. ▪ I feel responsible for the accident. [=I feel that I was responsible for the accident; I feel that the accident was my fault] ▪ I feel confident that we'll win. ▪ You may feel different tomorrow. [=your mood/thinking may change tomorrow] ▪ She felt hurt by their indifference. ▪ I feel certain/sure that we can solve these problems. ▪ I feel like a fool. = (chiefly Brit) I feel a fool. ▪ I didn't feel like myself yesterday. = I didn't feel myself yesterday. [=I didn't feel well yesterday] ▪ I feel as if/though I'm falling. = (informal) I feel like I'm falling. ▪ (You can) Feel free to leave whenever you like. [=you are free to leave whenever you like] ◊If you feel like doing something, you want to do it.
▪ Do you feel like (taking) a walk? ▪ I feel like crying. ▪ “Why won't you come?” “Because I don't feel like it.” ▪ He does whatever he feels like (doing). ▪ I don't feel like talking about it. [=I don't want to talk about it] 3 a [+ obj] : to touch (something) with your fingers to see what it is like
▪ She felt the fabric to see if it was wool.
b [+ obj] : to find (something) by touching with your fingers
▪ Your ribs are bruised, but I don't feel any broken bones.
c [no obj] : to search for something by reaching or touching usually with your fingers — often + for ▪ The doctor felt for any possible fractures in the patient's bruised ribs. ▪ He felt for the switch. — often + around or (Brit) about ▪ He felt around in the dark for the light switch. ▪ He felt around under the table with his foot.
d not used in progressive tenses [linking verb] — used to describe the qualilty that something has when it is touched ▪ This feels like wool (to me)—but it may not be. ▪ The silk feels smooth (to me). 4 [+ obj] : to believe or think (something)
▪ He feels that they behaved badly. ▪ They felt (that) it would be foolish to continue. ▪ I feel (that) I really ought to say something. ▪ He felt it necessary to say something. = He felt that it was necessary to say something. 5 [no obj] : to have an opinion
▪ How do you feel about this proposal? [=what do you think of this proposal; what is your opinion of this proposal?] ▪ Their votes reflect how they feel toward poor people. ◊If you feel strongly, you have a strong or definite opinion about something.
▪ We feel (very) strongly that they've been treated unfairly. ▪ If you feel that strongly (about it), we won't go. 6 [+ obj] : to be aware of (something) in your mind or emotions
▪ He felt his son's ingratitude, and he resented it. ▪ She could feel [=sense] the presence of an intruder in the house. ▪ I feel the urge to speak. ▪ I feel the need to try again. [=I think I/we should try again] ▪ I feel your pain. [=I am aware of how (much) you must have suffered] 7 [+ obj] a : to experience the effect of (something)
▪ He felt the medicine starting to work. ▪ I'm really feeling my age lately. [=I am feeling the effects of growing older]
b : to experience (something)
▪ Many people will feel the impact of this decision. [=many people will be affected by this decision] ▪ I felt pleasure in her company. [=I enjoyed being with her] ▪ He felt no remorse for what he had done. ▪ She feels contempt for her political enemies.
c : to be hurt by (something)
▪ They felt the insult deeply. [=they were deeply hurt by the insult] ▪ She felt the loss/death of her mother. 8 not used in progressive tenses [linking verb] a — used to describe the quality that something has or the feeling that something causes ▪ It just doesn't feel [=seem] right to be doing this. ▪ It feels like spring today. ▪ It feels strange that I'm here again. = It feels strange to be here again. ▪ This place really feels like home. ▪ It feels as if it's going to rain. = (chiefly US) It feels like rain.
b : to have a specified physical quality
▪ My eyes feel dry. ▪ His hands felt cool.
▪ He felt a sudden pain in his leg. ▪ I could feel the warmth of the sun. ▪ I felt someone tap my shoulder. ▪ I could feel him pulling my hair. [=I could feel that he was pulling my hair] ▪ Do you feel a draft? ▪ I'm the kind of person who really feels the heat/cold. [=hot/cold weather bothers me more than it bothers most people]
▪ Do you feel like (taking) a walk? ▪ I feel like crying. ▪ “Why won't you come?” “Because I don't feel like it.” ▪ He does whatever he feels like (doing). ▪ I don't feel like talking about it. [=I don't want to talk about it]
▪ She felt the fabric to see if it was wool.
b [+ obj] : to find (something) by touching with your fingers
▪ Your ribs are bruised, but I don't feel any broken bones.
c [no obj] : to search for something by reaching or touching usually with your fingers — often + for ▪ The doctor felt for any possible fractures in the patient's bruised ribs. ▪ He felt for the switch. — often + around or (Brit) about ▪ He felt around in the dark for the light switch. ▪ He felt around under the table with his foot.
d not used in progressive tenses [linking verb] — used to describe the qualilty that something has when it is touched ▪ This feels like wool (to me)—but it may not be. ▪ The silk feels smooth (to me).
▪ He feels that they behaved badly. ▪ They felt (that) it would be foolish to continue. ▪ I feel (that) I really ought to say something. ▪ He felt it necessary to say something. = He felt that it was necessary to say something.
▪ How do you feel about this proposal? [=what do you think of this proposal; what is your opinion of this proposal?] ▪ Their votes reflect how they feel toward poor people. ◊If you feel strongly, you have a strong or definite opinion about something.
▪ We feel (very) strongly that they've been treated unfairly. ▪ If you feel that strongly (about it), we won't go.
▪ He felt his son's ingratitude, and he resented it. ▪ She could feel [=sense] the presence of an intruder in the house. ▪ I feel the urge to speak. ▪ I feel the need to try again. [=I think I/we should try again] ▪ I feel your pain. [=I am aware of how (much) you must have suffered]
▪ He felt the medicine starting to work. ▪ I'm really feeling my age lately. [=I am feeling the effects of growing older]
b : to experience (something)
▪ Many people will feel the impact of this decision. [=many people will be affected by this decision] ▪ I felt pleasure in her company. [=I enjoyed being with her] ▪ He felt no remorse for what he had done. ▪ She feels contempt for her political enemies.
c : to be hurt by (something)
▪ They felt the insult deeply. [=they were deeply hurt by the insult] ▪ She felt the loss/death of her mother.
b : to have a specified physical quality
▪ My eyes feel dry. ▪ His hands felt cool.
feel for [phrasal verb]
feel for (someone) : to have sympathy or pity for (someone)
▪ I feel (deeply) for you, but there's nothing I can do to help. — see also 1feel 3c (above)
▪ I feel (deeply) for you, but there's nothing I can do to help. — see also 1feel 3c (above)
feel no pain
chiefly US, informal : to be drunk
▪ He had been at the bar for several hours and he was clearly feeling no pain. [=he was very drunk]
▪ He had been at the bar for several hours and he was clearly feeling no pain. [=he was very drunk]
feel out [phrasal verb]
feel (someone) out : to talk to or question (someone) in an indirect way in order to find out if something you want to do or get will be possible
▪ He tried to feel us out to see if we'd loan him more money.
▪ He tried to feel us out to see if we'd loan him more money.
feel up [phrasal verb]
feel (someone) up or feel up (someone) informal : to touch (someone who does not want to be touched) for sexual pleasure
▪ She says he felt her up.
▪ She says he felt her up.
feel your best — see 3best
feel your oats — see oat
feel your way 1 : to move forward carefully by putting your hands in front of you so that you can feel anything that blocks you
▪ He felt his way through the darkened room. 2 : to move toward a goal very slowly and carefully
▪ In the early days of the project they were just feeling their way (along), trying not to make mistakes.
▪ He felt his way through the darkened room.
▪ In the early days of the project they were just feeling their way (along), trying not to make mistakes.
