Meaning & use
having feelings for someone
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformal
secretly or quietly liking someone in a romantic way, often without telling them.
Grammar: Used after be or verbs like start, stop, admit: 'He admitted having feelings for her.' The person comes after 'for'.
Patterns
- have feelings for someone
- start having feelings for someone
- admit having feelings for someone
I think I'm starting to have feelings for my best friend's brother.
She finally told him she had feelings for him, and he felt the same way.
It's hard to work with someone when you have feelings for them.
phrasefixed phraseinformal
caring about someone in a strong emotional way, not necessarily romantic.
Grammar: Can be used for deep friendship or family love, especially when 'romantic' is not intended.
Patterns
- have feelings for someone
- no feelings for someone
After years of teaching, she still has feelings for every student she helps.
He said he had feelings for her as a friend, but nothing more.
Common combinations
- have feelings for someone
- Do you have feelings for her, or is she just a friend?
- catch feelings for someone
- They agreed it was casual, but he caught feelings for her anyway.
- admit having feelings for someone
- It took him a year to admit having feelings for her.
- develop feelings for someone
- Over time, she developed feelings for the man she worked with.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be in love with someone
- Stronger and more serious; it suggests a deep, lasting romantic love, not just a growing attraction.
- have a crush on someone
- More playful and often temporary, used especially by young people.
- be attracted to someone
- Focuses on physical or romantic interest and can sound more direct or scientific.
Word family
- feelings noun
- Emotions or emotional attitudes, often used in the plural.
- feeling noun
- A single emotion or a physical sensation.
Commonly confused: having feelings for someone or feel for someone?
having feelings for someone vs feel for someone
This means to feel sympathy for someone, not romantic interest: 'I feel for her after her loss.'
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Having feelings for someone' always uses 'for' before the person. 'For to' and 'on' are not used in this phrase, and 'with' would suggest doing something together, not romantic interest.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “having feelings for someone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.