feel for

phrasal verb

felt for; feeling for; feels for
1
: 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.
2
: 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 

Dictionary Entries Near feel for

Cite this Entry

“Feel for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feel%20for. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!