feel for

phrasal verb

felt for; feeling for; feels for

: to search for (something) by reaching or touching usually with the fingers

The doctor felt for any possible fractures in the patient's bruised ribs.

He felt for the light switch.

: to have sympathy or pity for (someone)

I feel (deeply) for you, but there's nothing I can do to help.

Examples of feel for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

But director Chu and production designer Nathan Crowley wanted a realistic feel for the land of Oz. —

Eric Andersson, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024 He’s spent that time getting a feel for his organization and others, which is understandable and prudent. —

Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024 The full effects of the President’s economic policies won’t be felt for years. —

Ian Crouch, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2024 Visit a tribe’s official website to get a feel for that group’s preferred phrasing and pay close attention to on-the-ground cues. —

Kate Nelson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feel for