feel out
phrasal verb
felt out; feeling out; feels out
: to talk to or question (someone) in an indirect way in order to find out if something one wants to do or get will be possible
He tried to feel us out to see if we'd loan him more money.
Examples of feel out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With packed rows of congregants, an evangelical bent and technology that wouldn’t feel out of place at a stadium concert, the Gemstones’ megachurch isn’t far off from the real thing.
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Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Francis’ legacy in Africa is mixed, with some crediting him for adapting church teachings to African customs and others saying his messages at times felt out of touch with the diverse and strongly held beliefs that animate many African societies.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Governments got a little smaller after World War II (federal spending fell by 75 percent, 1944-46), and private business began to feel out its new place in the world.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
If things feel out of alignment in your partnerships, this is a time to release what no longer serves you and move toward healthier dynamics.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feel out
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Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Francis’ legacy in Africa is mixed, with some crediting him for adapting church teachings to African customs and others saying his messages at times felt out of touch with the diverse and strongly held beliefs that animate many African societies.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Governments got a little smaller after World War II (federal spending fell by 75 percent, 1944-46), and private business began to feel out its new place in the world.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
If things feel out of alignment in your partnerships, this is a time to release what no longer serves you and move toward healthier dynamics.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feel out
Cite this Entry
“Feel out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feel%20out. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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