feels promising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feels promising" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing optimism or hope about a situation, idea, or project that shows potential for success. Example: "The initial results of the experiment feel promising, indicating that we may be on the right track."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The pilot feels promising; it is hard to pull off seat-of-power dramas without seeming at least a little inauthentic, as most nearly every political drama other than "The West Wing" has demonstrated.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It doesn't feel promising for Federer.

The Guardian - Sport

This felt promising!

The New Yorker

Perhaps I still feel promising!

The Guardian - Books

A morose, adolescent mood pervades this show, making everything feel promising but also unanchored and complacent.

The New York Times

Its initial run felt promising at first, but then quickly petered out, indicating a small striper affectionately known as a rat.

The New York Times - Sports

Which was a shame, because that band's self-titled debut (on Roadrunner) is one of the year's most careful major-label releases, a modest reframing of the breakthrough indie rock of the 1990s that, while pushing no boundaries, still felt promising, a foundation for something riskier.

The New York Times - Arts

The first seems irrecoverable, things being as they are, but the second feels newly promising, in a time when technological advances outpace our imaginative resources.

The New Yorker

She throws herself on his unconscious form, weeping and begging him to live, assuring him that she understands at last that it isn't merely friendship she feels and promising to be his wife.

The New York Times

They felt for promising layered terrain by snaking the probe, a 10-foot metal rod, into the ground.

The New York Times - Science

But, given the number of Clinton-related messages on Weiner's laptop (the F.B.I. had identified forty-nine thousand as "potentially relevant"), no one felt confident promising the F.B.I. director that they could be examined in time.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feels promising" to convey a sense of cautious optimism based on current observations or initial results. For stronger assertions, use "is promising".

Common error

Avoid using "feels promising" when concrete evidence already confirms success. It's best suited for situations where potential is apparent but outcomes are not yet fully determined.

Linguistic Context

Feels promising functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, where "feels" acts as a copular verb linking the subject to the adjective "promising". The phrase describes a subjective assessment of potential or likelihood of success. Ludwig AI analysis of the example sentences confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feels promising" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to convey cautious optimism about a situation or prospect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is best employed when there's a subjective assessment of potential based on initial impressions or preliminary results, and is appropriate for neutral and professional contexts. While "feels promising" is common, remember to use it when genuine potential exists rather than when proven success is already at hand. Consider synonyms like "shows potential" or "seems encouraging" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

holds promise

Emphasizes the inherent potential and future possibilities.

shows potential

Focuses on the inherent capabilities that suggest a positive future.

looks hopeful

Emphasizes the visual aspect of a situation appearing optimistic.

seems encouraging

Highlights the supportive and confidence-boosting nature of something.

gives reason for optimism

More explicitly states that there is justification for a positive outlook.

is cause for hope

Directly states that the situation creates a hopeful sentiment.

appears favorable

Indicates a positive impression based on current evidence.

is a good sign

Points out that a situation is auspicious or indicative of positive outcomes.

bodes well

A more formal expression indicating a positive prediction for the future.

augurs well

Similar to "bodes well" but less common; indicates a positive omen.

FAQs

How to use "feels promising" in a sentence?

You can use "feels promising" to describe situations or initial results that show potential but aren't yet guaranteed successes. For example, "The initial data from the clinical trial "feels promising"."

What can I say instead of "feels promising"?

You can use alternatives like "shows potential", "seems encouraging", or "holds promise" depending on the context.

Is "feels promising" formal or informal?

"Feels promising" is generally suitable for both neutral and professional contexts. However, for very formal or scientific writing, consider using alternatives like "appears favorable" or "suggests potential".

What does it mean when something "feels promising"?

When something "feels promising", it means there's a subjective sense that it has a good chance of succeeding or producing positive results. It implies a hopeful assessment based on initial impressions or preliminary evidence.