feeling

I UK [ˈfiːlɪŋ] / US [ˈfɪlɪŋ] noun
Word forms "feeling":
singular feeling plural feelings
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Metaphor:

When your feelings and emotions are strongly affected by something, you feel as if you have been hit hard, shaken, touched, or injured. The news has hit him really hard. ♦ The news came as quite a blow. ♦ I was reeling from the shock. ♦ It had a huge impact on them. ♦ We were very moved/touched by her story. ♦ It was very upsetting. ♦ It shook us to the core. ♦ He made a stirring speech about duty and loyalty. ♦ I was bowled over/blown away by her. ♦ I felt very torn: I didn't know what to do. ♦ You've injured/hurt her feelings. ♦ She made some very hurtful remarks. ♦ It pains me to see you like this. ♦ It was agony waiting for the results. ♦ Sam looked a bit knocked back by the news. ♦ Her ego is bruised, but she'll get over it. ♦ It's a disappointment, I know, but you'll just have to take it on the chin. ➡ afraid, angry, enthusiasm, happy, hate, love, nervous

1) [countable] an emotional state, for example anger or happiness

feeling of:

Parents often experience deep feelings of guilt if their children fail.

a) feelings

[plural] emotions, especially when these are sensitive and likely to be affected by what other people say or do

He found it difficult to express his feelings.

hurt someone's feelings (= upset someone):

I didn't want to hurt his feelings.

b) [singular] the emotional effect that a place has on you

There's a feeling of hopelessness about the place.

2)

a) [countable] an opinion that you have about something, especially when it is based on general thoughts rather than definite reasons

My feeling is that we should wait a week or two.

feeling about:

Sarah has very strong feelings about environmental issues.

b) [uncountable] the opinions of most people

The feeling is that the economy will continue to improve.

feeling on/about:

The minister underestimated the strength of public feeling on this issue.

feeling against:

There is now strong national feeling against the nuclear plant.

3) [countable] something that you feel physically in your body

feeling of:

A feeling of nausea came over her.

I suddenly had an overwhelming feeling of tiredness.

4) [uncountable] the ability to feel pain, heat etc in your body

When I woke up I had no feeling in my legs.

lose feeling in something:

She had lost all feeling in her right arm.

•

bad/ill feeling — angry feelings that remain between people after a disagreement

The last thing we want is any friction or bad feeling between the players.

have/geta/the feeling (that) — to be conscious of something but not certain about it

I have a feeling we've met before.

I had the feeling she was watching me.

have/get a feeling for something — to have or develop a natural ability to do something

He has no feeling for poetry whatsoever.

- have mixed feelings about something

- I know the feeling

See:

hard I, mutual I

II UK [ˈfiːlɪŋ] / US [ˈfɪlɪŋ] adjective

sensitive and showing emotion

She did not appear to be a particularly feeling person.

Derived word:
feelingly
adverb