felt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "felt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an emotional or physical sensation experienced by someone. Example: "I felt a wave of relief wash over me when I heard the good news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I felt sick.

The New York Times

I felt powerless.

The New York Times

This is a whole new road for me, something I can get my teeth into but I just felt it was something I had to do.

The Guardian - Sport

I felt that my friends and neighbors were saying that my love is not the same as theirs".

The Economist

Before many effects of today's emissions are felt, it will be time for the Summer Olympics of 2048.

The Economist

I felt alone.

The New York Times

It felt wonderful.

The New York Times

I felt abandoned.

The New York Times

I felt ashamed.

The New York Times

(I confess I felt a lot like John Waters in the 1980s, when he attended – for research purposes, and alone – a Saturday-morning screening of The Care Bears Movie during the notorious McMartin pre-school devil-worship and child-abuse trial).

The Guardian - Film

He suggested that the Muslim communities he knew felt "under siege" – spied on, interrogated, routinely asked to "put their house in order" as if they were not, and had never been, an equal part of British society.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider varying your vocabulary by using synonyms like "experienced", "sensed", or "perceived" to avoid repetition and add nuance to your writing.

Common error

While "felt" is appropriate in many contexts, overuse in formal or scientific writing can make the writing sound less objective. In such cases, consider using more precise and analytical language. For example, instead of "It was felt that...", use "Analysis indicated that..."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "felt" is as the past tense of the verb 'feel'. It describes a past experience, emotion, or sensation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and accepted usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "felt" is the past tense of 'feel' and functions to describe past emotions or sensations. As Ludwig AI accurately points out, its usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted. While highly versatile, it's important to consider the context and formality level to ensure appropriate usage. Predominantly found in news and media, as shown by Ludwig, it serves as a fundamental tool for expressing personal experiences and perceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced

Refers to a direct involvement or undergoing of a sensation or emotion.

sensed

Suggests an intuitive awareness or perception of something.

perceived

Implies a conscious recognition or understanding.

believed

Indicates a conviction or acceptance that something is true.

thought

Conveys a mental consideration or opinion.

had the impression

Suggests a vague or intuitive feeling about something.

was under the impression

Similar to 'had the impression' but emphasizes a pre-existing belief.

detected

Implies noticing something, often subtle or hidden.

recognised

Suggests identifying or acknowledging something previously known or unknown.

underwent

Similar to experienced, refers to enduring a sensation or emotion.

FAQs

How can I use "felt" in a sentence?

"Felt" is the past tense of "feel" and is used to describe a past emotion or physical sensation. For example, "I "felt" happy when I received the gift" or "She "felt" a sharp pain in her leg".

What are some synonyms for "felt" in the context of emotions?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, you can use words like "experienced", "sensed", "perceived", or "believed" instead of "felt".

Is it appropriate to use "felt" in formal writing?

While "felt" is grammatically correct, its overuse in formal writing can make the tone seem less objective. Consider using more analytical terms such as "analysis indicated" or "it was observed" in formal contexts.

What is the difference between "felt" and "feel"?

"Feel" is the present tense form, used to describe current sensations, while "felt" is the past tense, used to describe sensations that occurred in the past. For example, "I feel happy now" versus "I "felt" happy yesterday".