Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of feel
"She felt tears welling up as she watched her friend walk away."
Feelings, emotions
In plain English: Feeling is the physical sensation you experience when something touches your skin or affects your body.
"The doctor asked how my knee feels today."
Usage: Use the singular noun "feel" to refer to a general impression or intuition, while the plural form "feels" specifically denotes physical sensations or tactile qualities rather than abstract emotions. In everyday speech, avoid treating "feels" as a direct synonym for "feelings," as the latter is the standard term for emotional states.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of feel
"She feels tired after working late last night."
In plain English: To feel is to have a physical sensation or an emotional reaction inside you.
"She feels tired after working all day."
Usage: Use "feels" when describing how a third-person singular subject, such as he, she, or it, senses an emotion or physical sensation. For example, say "She feels tired" to indicate her state rather than using the base form "feel."
Synonym of emotional
"After hearing the sad news, she feels a deep sense of grief wash over her."
In plain English: Feeling describes how you experience an emotion or physical sensation right now.
"The fabric feels soft against my skin."
Usage: Use "feels" only when describing a physical sensation or tactile quality, such as texture or temperature. Do not use it to describe an emotion, as that requires the noun form "feeling" instead.
Feels is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb feel, which originates from Old English felan meaning to touch or perceive by sense. It retains this original sensory definition while also evolving in modern usage to describe emotional states and intuitions.