feeling
feeling
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "feeling" is /ˈfiːlɪŋ/.
ˈfiː: /f/ as in "fan," /iː/ as in "fleece."
lɪŋ: /l/ as in "light," /ɪ/ as in "kit," /ŋ/ as in "sing."
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: feeling
Plural: feelings
Verb (present participle of "feel"):
feeling (as in "I am feeling well.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A subjective experience of an emotion or sensation.
Synonyms: emotion, sensation, sentiment, impression, passion, intuition
Antonyms: numbness, apathy, indifference, unfeelingness
Definition 2: An opinion or belief, often one based on intuition rather than concrete evidence.
Synonyms: impression, hunch, notion, conviction, perception, inkling
Antonyms: fact, certainty, proof, evidence, knowledge
Definition 3: The capacity to experience emotions or sensations; sensitivity.
Synonyms: sensitivity, compassion, empathy, tenderness, susceptibility
Antonyms: insensitivity, callousness, detachment, coldness, harshness
Verb (present participle of "feel")
Definition 1: Experiencing an emotion or sensation; perceiving something through touch.
Synonyms: experiencing, sensing, perceiving, touching, discerning, undergoing
Antonyms: disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, failing to perceive
Examples of Use
Books:
"He had a strange feeling that he had been there before, a sense of déjà vu that was both unsettling and familiar." (From a work of fiction, e.g., a psychological thriller)
"The author delves deep into the characters' inner feelings, exploring their hopes, fears, and motivations with exquisite detail." (Literary criticism or book review)
Newspapers:
"Public feeling against the new policy has been steadily growing, with protests planned across the country." (Headline or article in The New York Times or The Guardian)
"The local community expressed a strong feeling of solidarity after the recent natural disaster." (Local newspaper report, e.g., The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Is it just a feeling, or are we truly on the cusp of a major technological breakthrough?" (Article on a technology blog like Wired or TechCrunch)
"We asked our readers to share their feelings about the new privacy changes on social media, and the responses were varied." (Online survey results or opinion piece on a news website like BBC News Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue from a romantic drama) "I have a feeling this is going to be a night to remember."
Television Series: (Voiceover from a crime procedural) "Despite the lack of physical evidence, the detective had a nagging feeling that something was amiss."
Music/Song Lyrics: "I've got a feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night." (From "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas)
Video Games: (In-game narration or character dialogue) "A strange feeling washes over you as you approach the ancient ruins." (e.g., from an RPG like The Elder Scrolls)
Podcasts: "In today's episode, we're discussing the complex feelings associated with imposter syndrome." (From a self-help or psychology podcast)
General Public Discourse:
Casual Conversation: "I have a good feeling about this job interview."
Social Media Post: "Just got that Friday feeling! What are everyone's plans for the weekend?" (On platforms like Twitter or Instagram)
Public Speech/Presentation: "We must never lose sight of the human feeling behind the statistics; every number represents a life." (From a political speech or humanitarian address)
Personal Reflection: "Sometimes, you just have to trust your gut feeling."
10 Famous Quotes Using Feeling
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." (Maya Angelou)
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." (Helen Keller)
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. But it is the feeling that drives the journey." (Attributed to Albert Einstein, though the latter part about "feeling" is often an embellishment of his original quote on imagination)
"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." (Dalai Lama XIV, often interpreted as emphasizing the internal "feeling" derived from actions)
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." (Edgar Degas, implying the emotional "feeling" evoked in the viewer)
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be." (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., touching upon the authentic "feeling" of identity)
"Where there is love there is life." (Mahatma Gandhi, a synonymous quote where "love" inherently carries a strong "feeling" component)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, suggesting a deep internal "feeling" and understanding of oneself)
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." (Martin Luther King, Jr., contrasting destructive "feelings" with constructive ones)
"The deepest personal defeat suffered by a human being is the difference between what he was capable of becoming and what he has made of himself." (Max L. Forman, reflecting the poignant "feeling" of unfulfilled potential)
Etymology
The word "feeling" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.
Imagine way back in time, over a thousand years ago, when English was just forming. The word "feeling" comes from the Old English word "fēlan." At its very beginning, fēlan primarily meant "to touch" or "to perceive through the senses." So, if you "fēlan" something, you were literally touching it or experiencing it with your senses, like feeling the texture of a stone or the warmth of the sun.
As time went on, around the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500), the meaning of "feeling" started to expand. It moved beyond just physical touch to include internal experiences – what we now call emotions. It came to mean a conscious emotional experience, like feeling joy or sadness.
So, the first known use of "feeling" as a noun, meaning the act of touching or the sense of touch, appears in texts from the late 12th century. By the mid-14th century, it had gained the broader meaning of a "conscious emotion." This shows a shift from purely physical sensing to also describing our inner emotional world.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Feeling
To have a feeling: To have an intuition or premonition.
Good feeling/bad feeling: A positive or negative intuition about something.
No hard feelings: No lingering anger or resentment.
To get a feeling for something: To understand or become accustomed to something.
To hurt someone's feelings: To cause emotional pain to someone.
To have mixed feelings: To have conflicting emotions about something.
To catch feelings: To develop romantic or strong emotional attachment (slang).
A feeling of unease: A sense of discomfort or anxiety.
Feeling under the weather: Feeling slightly ill.
To put out feelers: To make discreet inquiries or suggestions (using "feelers" as in antennae that "feel" around).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of feeling from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
