1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To feel sympathy or compassion for someone who is suffering or in a difficult situation.
"I really feel for the families who lost everything in the floods — it must be devastating."
inseparable
feel for
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To have sympathy or empathy for someone in a difficult situation, or to search for something by touch.
In plain English
To feel sorry for someone going through something hard, or to try to find something by touching.
What does "feel for" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To try to find something by touching, especially when you cannot see it.
"He felt for the light switch in the corridor without wanting to wake anyone."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Sense 1: metaphorically reaching out emotionally toward someone. Sense 2: literally reaching out with the hand to find something.
Actually means
To feel sorry for someone going through something hard, or to try to find something by touching.
Usage tip
The empathy sense is very common and natural in everyday speech. The tactile sense (searching by touch) is literal and straightforward. These two senses are quite different in meaning but share the same form.
Words that pair with "feel for"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
victims family loss situation switch handle
How to conjugate "feel for"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
feel for
I/you/we/they
3rd person
feels for
he/she/it
Past simple
felt for
yesterday
Past participle
felt for
have + pp
-ing form
feeling for
continuous
Hear "feel for" in the wild
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Other ways to say "feel for"
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Keep exploring
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