Meaning & use
to feel awful
Last updated
UK/tə ˌfiːl ˈɔːfəl/
US/tə ˌfil ˈɔfəl/
Meaning
verblinking
to feel very bad, either physically ill or emotionally upset
Grammar: Linking verb: feel + adjective, as in She feels awful.
Patterns
- someone feels awful
- feel awful about something
- feel awful for someone
I feel awful today, so I'm staying in bed.
She felt awful about missing her friend's wedding.
He feels awful for forgetting her birthday.
Common combinations
- feel awful about
- I feel awful about what I said to him.
- feel awful for someone
- We all felt awful for the family.
- feel absolutely awful
- After the flu, she felt absolutely awful for a week.
- make someone feel awful
- The way he spoke made me feel awful.
Synonyms and how they differ
- feel terrible
- Almost the same and often stronger; both are common and natural.
- feel sick
- More specific to physical illness, especially stomach problems; feel awful can also mean emotional upset.
- feel miserable
- Focuses on sadness or discomfort; feel awful is broader and can be physical or emotional.
Opposites
feel greatfeel fine
Commonly confused: to feel awful or awfully?
to feel awful vs awfully
Awfully is an adverb meaning 'very' (awfully nice); it is not used after feel to mean bad.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Feel is a linking verb, so it takes the adjective awful, not the adverb awfully. The preposition about introduces the reason for the feeling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to feel awful”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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