Phrase guide

feel for

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To experience sympathy for, to sympathise with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I feel for him: he’s lost two family members in two months.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To search for something by touching (as with one’s hand in a bag).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He felt for his purse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

share the suffering of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pity, compassionate, condole with, sympathize with

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: grieve, sorrow

Narrower terms: commiserate, sympathize, sympathise, care

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: mitfühlen — to express sympathy for, to sympathise with
  • Hungarian: együttérez — to express sympathy for, to sympathise with
  • Polish: współczuć — to express sympathy for, to sympathise with
  • Russian: сочувствовать (sočuvstvovatʹ) — to express sympathy for, to sympathise with
  • Esperanto: pripalpi — search for something by touching
  • Polish: szukać rękami — search for something by touching