Meaning & use
felt
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“felt” is a form of “feel”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past tense and past participle of feel: experienced an emotion or physical sensation.
Grammar: Linking use: she felt tired; with an object: he felt pain.
Patterns
- felt something
- felt like something
I felt nervous before the interview.
She felt a tap on her shoulder.
verbtransitive
Past tense of feel: touched something to learn what it is like.
Grammar: Takes an object.
Patterns
- felt something
He felt the wall for a switch.
The nurse felt her forehead.
verbtransitive
Past tense of feel: believed or thought something.
Grammar: Often followed by that.
Patterns
- felt that something
We felt that the plan was unfair.
Many felt he deserved the prize.
noununcountable
A soft, thick cloth made by pressing fibers together instead of weaving them.
Grammar: Uncountable: a piece of felt.
The craft kit included colorful felt.
Pool tables are covered with green felt.
Common combinations
- felt tip pen
- She used a felt tip pen.
- felt hat
- He wore a felt hat.
- felt like
- It felt like home.
- felt guilty
- He felt guilty about leaving.
- piece of felt
- Glue a piece of felt to the base.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sensed
- Sensed is for noticing something without clear evidence.
- experienced
- Experienced is more formal and neutral.
- touched
- Touched describes only physical contact.
Word family
Commonly confused: felt or fell?
felt vs fell
Fell is the past tense of fall; felt is the past tense of feel.
Practice
Yesterday I ___ much better after a good night's sleep.
Choose one answer.
Felt is the past tense of feel. Fell is the past of fall and changes the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “felt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.