Felt vs. Feel: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Felt" is the past tense of "feel," indicating a past emotion or sensation. "Feel" is a present tense verb for experiencing sensations or emotions.
Key Differences
"Felt" is the past tense of "feel." It describes emotions, sensations, or perceptions that occurred in the past. For example, "Yesterday, I felt happy." In contrast, "feel" is used in the present tense, indicating current emotions or sensations. Example: "I feel excited now."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
"Felt" functions as a simple past tense verb. It is used to describe a completed action or state in the past. Example: "She felt the texture of the silk." "Feel," however, can serve as a present tense verb or an imperative. As a present tense verb, it describes ongoing or current states, e.g., "I feel cold." As an imperative, it suggests experiencing or examining something, e.g., "Feel the rain on your skin."
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Dec 05, 2023
Both words relate to subjective experience but differ in their temporal context. "Felt" implies that the experience has ended, e.g., "I felt nervous during the interview." "Feel," on the other hand, suggests that the experience is ongoing or current, e.g., "I feel nervous about tomorrow's test."
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Dec 05, 2023
Both "felt" and "feel" can describe emotional and sensory experiences, but their usage changes with time. "Felt" might be used to recall a past emotion or sensation, e.g., "He felt joy at the news." "Feel" indicates a direct, present engagement with the emotion or sensation, e.g., "I feel joy when I see her."
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Dec 05, 2023
Both "felt" and "feel" have figurative uses. "Felt" can indicate a past understanding or impression, e.g., "She felt that it was a bad idea." "Feel" can imply a current opinion or intuition, e.g., "I feel that we should take a different approach."
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Dec 05, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Emotional/Sensory Context
Past emotions or sensations
Current emotions or sensations
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Figurative Implications
Past impressions or opinions
Current impressions or opinions
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Felt and Feel Definitions
Feel
Feel describes experiencing a sensation currently.
I feel the warmth of the sun.
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Dec 05, 2023
Felt
Implies a physical experience that happened previously.
We felt the ground shake during the earthquake.
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Dec 05, 2023
Felt
Felt indicates having experienced a sensation in the past.
I felt a chill last night.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Feel
Implies touching or physically experiencing something.
Feel the texture of this fabric.
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Dec 05, 2023
Felt
Used to describe a past perception or understanding.
She felt the solution was incorrect.
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Dec 05, 2023
Feel
To perceive through the sense of touch
Feel the velvety smoothness of a peach.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
A fabric of matted, compressed animal fibers, such as wool or fur, sometimes mixed with vegetable or synthetic fibers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To be persuaded of (something) on the basis of intuition, emotion, or other indefinite grounds
I feel that what the informant says may well be true.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
A cloth or stuff made of matted fibres of wool, or wool and fur, fulled or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure, with lees or size, without spinning or weaving.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To produce a particular sensation, especially through the sense of touch
The sheets felt smooth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To produce a particular impression; appear to be; seem
It feels good to be home. See Usage Note at well2.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To be conscious of a specified kind or quality of physical, mental, or emotional state
Felt warm and content.
Feels strongly about the election.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
(transitive) To make into felt, or a feltlike substance; to cause to adhere and mat together.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To seek or explore something by the sense of touch
Felt for the light switch in the dark.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
(transitive) To cover with, or as if with, felt.
To felt the cylinder of a steam engine
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Perception by touch or by sensation of the skin
A feel of autumn in the air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
A cloth or stuff made of matted fibers of wool, or wool and fur, fulled or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure, with lees or size, without spinning or weaving.
It were a delicate stratagem to shoeA troop of horse with felt.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
An overall impression or effect
"gives such disparate pictures ... a crazily convincing documentary feel" (Stephen King).
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
A skin or hide; a fell; a pelt.the grain of timber which is transverse to the annular rings or plates; the direction of the medullary rays in oak and some other timber.
To know whether sheep are sound or not, see that the felt be loose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.
I felt cold and miserable all night.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(transitive) To find one's way (literally or figuratively) by touching or using cautious movements.
I felt my way through the darkened room.
I felt my way cautiously through the dangerous business maneuver.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
Change texture so as to become matted and felt-like;
The fabric felted up after several washes
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(intransitive) To receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Felt
Indicates a past intuitive or gut feeling.
I felt that something was wrong.
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Dec 05, 2023
Feel
(intransitive) To search by sense of touch.
He felt for the light switch in the dark.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(transitive) To experience an emotion or other mental state about.
I can feel the sadness in his poems.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(transitive) To think, believe, or have an impression concerning.
I feel that we need to try harder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To experience an emotion or other mental state.
He obviously feels strongly about it.
She felt even more upset when she heard the details.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(intransitive) To sympathise; to have the sensibilities moved or affected.
I feel for you and your plight.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
(copulative) To seem (through touch or otherwise).
It looks like wood, but it feels more like plastic.
This is supposed to be a party, but it feels more like a funeral!
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch.
Bark has a rough feel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
A vague mental impression.
You should get a feel for the area before moving in.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
An act of fondling.
She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs.
Who feelThose rods of scorpions and those whips of steel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out.
Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son.
He hath this to feel my affection to your honor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be affected by; to be sensible of, or sensitive to; as, to feel pleasure; to feel pain.
Teach me to feel another's woe.
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing.
He best can paint them who shall feel them most.
Mankind have felt their strength and made it felt.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an inward persuasion of.
For then, and not till then, he felt himself.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To have perception by the touch, or by contact of anything with the nerves of sensation, especially those upon the surface of the body.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To have the sensibilities moved or affected.
[She] feels with the dignity of a Roman matron
And mine as man, who feel for all mankind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind, persuasion, physical condition, etc.; to perceive one's self to be; - followed by an adjective describing the state, etc.; as, to feel assured, grieved, persuaded.
I then did feel full sick.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To know with feeling; to be conscious; hence, to know certainly or without misgiving.
Garlands . . . which I feelI am not worthy yet to wear.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
To appear to the touch; to give a perception; to produce an impression by the nerves of sensation; - followed by an adjective describing the kind of sensation.
Blind men say black feels rough, and white feels smooth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Feeling; perception.
To intercept and have a more kindly feel of its genial warmth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
A sensation communicated by touching; impression made upon one who touches or handles; as, this leather has a greasy feel.
The difference between these two tumors will be distinguished by the feel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
An intuitive awareness;
He has a feel for animals
It's easy when you get the feel of it
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Manual-genital stimulation for sexual pleasure;
The girls hated it when he tried to sneak a feel
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Come to believe on the basis of emotion, intuitions, or indefinite grounds;
I feel that he doesn't like me
I find him to be obnoxious
I found the movie rather entertaining
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Perceive by a physical sensation, e.g., coming from the skin or muscles;
He felt the wind
She felt an object brushing her arm
He felt his flesh crawl
She felt the heat when she got out of the car
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Seem with respect to a given sensation given;
My cold is gone--I feel fine today
She felt tired after the long hike
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Have a feeling or perception about oneself in reaction to someone's behavior or attitude;
She felt small and insignificant
You make me feel naked
I made the students feel different about themselves
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Undergo passive experience of:
We felt the effects of inflation
Her fingers felt their way through the string quartet
She felt his contempt of her
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Be felt or perceived in a certain way;
The ground feels shaky
The sheets feel soft
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Examine by touch;
Feel this soft cloth!
The customer fingered the sweater
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Examine (a body part) by palpation;
The nurse palpated the patient's stomach
The runner felt her pulse
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Find by testing or cautious exploration;
He felt his way around the dark room
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Pass one's hands over the sexual organs of;
He felt the girl in the movie theater
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Oct 19, 2023
Feel
Used to express a current perception or belief.
They feel this is the right decision.
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Dec 05, 2023
Feel
Refers to a current intuition or impression.
I feel like it's going to rain.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "feel" indicate future sensations?
Indirectly, in expressions like "I feel it will rain," it suggests a prediction or intuition about the future.
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Dec 05, 2023
How is "feel" used in a sentence?
"Feel" is used to describe current sensations or emotions, or as a command to experience something physically.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is "felt" only for emotional contexts?
No, "felt" can describe physical sensations and intuitive perceptions in the past.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
What does "felt" mean?
"Felt" is the past tense of "feel," used for past sensations or emotions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can "felt" and "feel" be used interchangeably?
No, they differ in tense; "felt" is past tense, and "feel" is present tense.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Are there any idiomatic uses of "felt"?
Yes, phrases like "felt out of place" use "felt" idiomatically to describe past emotional states.
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Dec 05, 2023
Do "felt" and "feel" have the same root word?
Yes, "felt" is the past tense of the verb "feel."
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Dec 05, 2023
Can "feel" imply a command?
Yes, in imperative form, "feel" can command someone to touch or experience something, like "Feel this fabric."
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Dec 05, 2023
Is "felt" used in formal writing?
Yes, "felt" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.
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Dec 05, 2023
Is "felt" used in figurative language?
Yes, "felt" can be used figuratively, as in "She felt like she was on top of the world."
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Dec 05, 2023
How do "felt" and "feel" relate to physical sensations?
"Felt" describes past physical sensations, while "feel" refers to current ones.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can "feel" be used in a non-physical sense?
Yes, "feel" can describe emotional states or opinions, like "I feel happy" or "I feel that's wrong."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can "felt" describe a past intuition?
Yes, it can describe past intuitions or gut feelings.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Is "feel" used in different tenses?
Yes, "feel" is used in present, future, and imperative forms.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Can "feel" describe mental states?
Yes, "feel" can describe both mental and physical states or perceptions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
How does context affect the use of "felt"?
The context determines whether "felt" refers to emotional, sensory, or intuitive experiences.
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Dec 05, 2023
Can "felt" imply a change in state?
Yes, it can imply a change from a past state to a current one, as in "I felt cold, but now I'm warm."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 05, 2023
Does "feel" always require a direct object?
No, it can be used both transitively and intransitively, like "I feel cold" or "I feel the cloth."
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Dec 05, 2023
Are there any synonyms for "felt"?
Synonyms include "perceived," "experienced," or "understood," depending on context.
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Dec 05, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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