Feel Like – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever said, “I don’t feel like cooking tonight,” or “This soup feels like home”? In English, the phrase feel like is used all the time to talk about what you want, what you believe, or how something affects you physically or emotionally. It’s simple, flexible, and perfect for daily conversations.
What Does “Feel Like” Mean?
“Feel like” has three main uses:
1. To want (or not want) to do something: “I feel like going for a walk.”
2. To have an opinion or impression: “It feels like rain is coming.”
3. To describe a physical or emotional sensation: “After the flight, I felt like a zombie.”
Think of it as your inner voice describing desire, intuition, or experience—not a literal touch, but a mental or emotional sense.
When to Use It
Use “feel like” in casual or neutral conversations:
• When expressing preferences: “I don’t feel like watching TV tonight.”
• When guessing or sensing something: “It feels like we’ve met before.”
• When describing how you feel physically or emotionally: “I feel like I haven’t slept in days.”
It’s extremely common in speaking, texts, and informal writing—great for real-life fluency. Avoid it in formal reports or academic essays.
Example Sentences
- I feel like trying that new sushi place.
- It feels like summer is finally here!
- She felt like crying after hearing the news.
- Do you feel like talking, or do you need space?
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “Want to go out for dinner?”
Jamie: “Not really. I feel like staying in and ordering pizza.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t use “feel like” to state facts—use it for personal feelings or impressions. Also, remember: after “feel like,” use a noun, pronoun, or verb ending in -ing—not the base form.
❌ Don’t say: “I feel like go to bed.”
✅ Do say: “I feel like going to bed.”
✅ Do say: “It feels like a dream.”
Practice Tip
Next time you’re making a small decision—what to eat, whether to go out, or how you’re feeling—say it using “feel like”: “I feel like drinking tea” or “It feels like a good day.” This builds natural, everyday fluency.
Final Note
Now you can use “feel like” to share your wants, impressions, and emotions—with ease and authenticity. It’s one of the most human phrases in English, used constantly by native speakers. Keep listening for it in shows, chats, and songs. You’re not just learning a phrase—you’re learning how people express their inner world. Keep going—you’ve got this!