Felt vs. Feel — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 26, 2023
'Felt' is the past tense of 'feel', referring to a past experience of sensation or emotion, while 'feel' is used in the present tense to describe the act of experiencing sensations or emotions.
Difference Between Felt and Feel
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Key Differences
'Felt' is used when referring to sensations or emotions experienced in the past. For instance, "Yesterday, I felt happy." In contrast, 'feel' is used in the present tense, as in "I feel happy right now."
'Felt' can convey a completed action or state, implying that the sensation or emotion has occurred and may have changed since. 'Feel', however, suggests an ongoing or current state of sensing or experiencing emotions.
In terms of grammatical structure, 'felt' is the simple past tense and past participle form of 'feel'. 'Feel', in its basic form, is used for present tense and present continuous, as in "I feel" or "I am feeling".
'Felt' often conveys a sense of reflection or recollection about a past experience. In contrast, 'feel' is more immediate, describing current perceptions or emotions.
The usage of 'felt' can also indicate a change over time, as in "I felt tired earlier, but now I feel energized." This contrasts with 'feel', which is used to describe the current state without reference to past states.
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Comparison Chart
Tense
Past tense of 'feel'.
Present tense of 'feel'.
Usage
Refers to past sensations or emotions.
Refers to current sensations or emotions.
Grammatical Form
Simple past and past participle.
Present tense and present continuous.
Implication
Implies a past state that may have changed.
Suggests an ongoing or current state.
Contextual Use
Often used in reflective or narrative contexts.
Used in describing immediate perceptions or feelings.
Compare with Definitions
Felt
Experienced or perceived in the past.
She felt joy at the news last night.
Feel
To experience a sensation or emotion presently.
I feel excited about the upcoming event.
Felt
Used to describe a past emotional state.
I felt overwhelmed with the workload last week.
Feel
Present tense of sensing physically or emotionally.
She feels the breeze on her skin.
Felt
Past tense of feeling a sensation or emotion.
He felt the cold wind against his face yesterday.
Feel
To perceive or be aware of something currently.
He feels a sense of accomplishment.
Felt
Past perception or sensation by touch.
They felt the texture of the fabric gently.
Feel
To have a particular sensation or emotion now.
They feel tired after the journey.
Felt
Change texture so as to become matted and felt-like;
The fabric felted up after several washes
Feel
Experiencing a current physical or emotional state.
I feel nervous about the presentation.
Felt
Recollecting a physical or emotional experience.
We felt relieved after hearing the good news.
Feel
Experience (an emotion or sensation)
She started to feel really sick
It felt odd to be alone again
We feel very strongly about freedom of expression
I felt a sense of excitement
Felt
Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic or acrylonitrile or wood pulp-based rayon.
Feel
Be aware of (a person or object) through touching or being touched
She felt someone touch her shoulder
You can feel the soft grass beneath your feet
Felt
A fabric of matted, compressed animal fibers, such as wool or fur, sometimes mixed with vegetable or synthetic fibers.
Feel
Have a belief or impression, especially without an identifiable reason
She felt that the woman positively disliked her
Felt
A material resembling this fabric.
Feel
An act of touching something to examine it.
Felt
Something made of this fabric.
Feel
A sensation given by an object or material when touched
Nylon cloth with a cotton feel
Felt
Made of, relating to, or resembling felt.
Feel
Feelings of heightened emotion
Fans will undoubtedly get the feels when they see how things haven't changed
I cry at everything, even the types of movies you wouldn't expect to give you all the feels
Felt
To make into felt.
Feel
To perceive through the sense of touch
Feel the velvety smoothness of a peach.
Felt
To cover with felt.
Feel
To perceive as a physical sensation
Feel a sharp pain.
Feel the cold.
Felt
To press or mat (something) together.
Feel
To touch
Reached out and felt the wall.
Felt
To become like felt; mat together.
Feel
To examine by touching
Felt the fabric for flaws.
Felt
Past tense and past participle of feel.
Feel
To test or explore with caution
Feel one's way in a new job.
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.
Feel
To undergo the experience of
Felt my interest rising.
Felt great joy.
Felt
A hat made of felt.
Feel
To be aware of; sense
Felt the anger of the crowd.
Felt
A felt-tip pen.
Feel
To be emotionally affected by
She still feels the loss of her dog.
Felt
(obsolete) A skin or hide; a fell; a pelt.
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.
Felt
(transitive) To make into felt, or a feltlike substance; to cause to adhere and mat together.
Feel
To believe; think
She felt his answer to be evasive.
Felt
(transitive) To cover with, or as if with, felt.
To felt the cylinder of a steam engine
Feel
To experience the sensation of touch.
Felt
To cause a player to lose all their chips.
Feel
To produce a particular sensation, especially through the sense of touch
The sheets felt smooth.
Felt
Simple past tense and past participle of feel
Feel
To produce a particular impression; appear to be; seem
It feels good to be home. See Usage Note at well2.
Felt
That has been experienced or perceived.
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.
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.
Feel
To seek or explore something by the sense of touch
Felt for the light switch in the dark.
Felt
A hat made of felt.
Feel
To have compassion or sympathy
I feel for him in his troubles.
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.
Feel
Perception by touch or by sensation of the skin
A feel of autumn in the air.
Felt
A fabric made of compressed matted animal fibers
Feel
The sense of touch
A surface that is rough to the feel.
Felt
Mat together and make felt-like;
Felt the wool
Feel
An act or instance of touching or feeling
Gave the carpet a feel.
Felt
Cover with felt;
Felt a cap
Feel
An overall impression or effect
"gives such disparate pictures ... a crazily convincing documentary feel" (Stephen King).
Feel
Intuitive awareness or natural ability
Has a feel for decorating.
Feel
(heading) To use or experience the sense of touch.
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.
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.
Feel
(intransitive) To receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
Feel
(intransitive) To search by sense of touch.
He felt for the light switch in the dark.
Feel
(heading) To sense or think emotionally or judgmentally.
Feel
(transitive) To experience an emotion or other mental state about.
I can feel the sadness in his poems.
Feel
(transitive) To think, believe, or have an impression concerning.
I feel that we need to try harder.
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.
Feel
(intransitive) To sympathise; to have the sensibilities moved or affected.
I feel for you and your plight.
Feel
(transitive) To be or become aware of.
Feel
(transitive) To experience the consequences of.
Feel my wrath!
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!
Feel
To understand.
I don't want you back here, ya feel me?
Feel
(archaic) The sense of touch.
Feel
A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch.
Bark has a rough feel.
Feel
A vague mental impression.
You should get a feel for the area before moving in.
Feel
An act of fondling.
She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.
Feel
A vague understanding.
I'm getting a feel for what you mean.
Feel
An intuitive ability.
She has a feel for music.
Feel
A feeling; an emotion.
I know that feel.
Feel
Alternative form of fele
Feel
Alternative form of fele
Feel
Alternative form of fele
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.
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.
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.
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.
Feel
To perceive; to observe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Feel
Feeling; perception.
To intercept and have a more kindly feel of its genial warmth.
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.
Feel
An intuitive awareness;
He has a feel for animals
It's easy when you get the feel of it
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
Feel
A property perceived by touch
Feel
Undergo an emotional sensation;
She felt resentful
He felt regret
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
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
Feel
Seem with respect to a given sensation given;
My cold is gone--I feel fine today
She felt tired after the long hike
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
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
Feel
Be felt or perceived in a certain way;
The ground feels shaky
The sheets feel soft
Feel
Grope or feel in search of something;
He felt for his wallet
Feel
Examine by touch;
Feel this soft cloth!
The customer fingered the sweater
Feel
Examine (a body part) by palpation;
The nurse palpated the patient's stomach
The runner felt her pulse
Feel
Find by testing or cautious exploration;
He felt his way around the dark room
Feel
Produce a certain impression;
It feels nice to be home again
Common Curiosities
What is the difference between 'felt' and 'feel'?
'Felt' is the past tense of 'feel', referring to past experiences, while 'feel' is present tense.
Is 'felt' always about emotions?
'Felt' can refer to both physical sensations and emotions experienced in the past.
What does 'feel' indicate in a conversation?
'Feel' indicates the speaker's current emotional or physical state.
Can 'feel' be used to describe physical touch?
Yes, 'feel' can describe the act of perceiving through physical touch.
How is 'felt' used in reflective writing?
In reflective writing, 'felt' is used to look back on past feelings or experiences.
Can 'felt' and 'feel' be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot be used interchangeably as they refer to different time frames.
Can 'felt' imply a change over time?
Yes, 'felt' can imply a change from a past state to a different current state.
Does 'feel' always relate to emotions?
'Feel' can relate to both physical sensations and emotions.
How do you use 'feel' in a sentence?
'Feel' is used to describe current sensations or emotions, e.g., "I feel happy."
Is 'felt' used in narrative writing?
Yes, 'felt' is often used in narrative writing to describe past sensations or emotions.
Is 'feel' used in present continuous tense?
Yes, 'feel' can be used in present continuous as in "I am feeling."
Does 'feel' imply current awareness?
Yes, 'feel' implies a current awareness or perception.
Can 'felt' refer to past physical pain?
Yes, 'felt' can refer to physical pain experienced in the past.
How does 'felt' function in storytelling?
'Felt' functions to convey characters' past emotional or sensory experiences.
Can 'felt' describe past physical sensations?
Yes, 'felt' can describe physical sensations experienced in the past.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
