Cool MateFeel like vs Want
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Feel like
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Want
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Want
| Feel like | Want | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fiːl laɪk//🇺🇸 //fil laɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɒnt/","/wɒnts/","/ˈwɒntɪd/","/ˈwɒntɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɑːnt/","/wɑːnts/","/ˈwɑːntɪd/","/ˈwɑːntɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to have a particular emotion or desire | to desire or wish for something |
| Example | I feel like going for a walk today. | I want to eat pizza for dinner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | feel like going, feel like doing, feel like eating, feel like talking, feel like relaxing | badly, desperately, really, all you want, exactly what you want, just what you want |
| Antonyms | dislike, refuse, avoid | dislike, refuse, reject |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'feel as if', Using with a full infinitive instead of gerund, Omitting 'like' in some phrases | Using 'want' with gerunds incorrectly, e.g., 'I want going.' should be 'I want to go.', Confusing 'want' with 'need' — 'need' expresses necessity, while 'want' shows desire., Overusing 'want' in formal writing instead of more polite alternatives like 'would like' or 'desire.' |
| Usage notes | Often used casually to express desires or mood. Less formal than 'wish to' or 'would like to'. | Use 'want' in everyday conversations to express desires. It is appropriate in most contexts but may sound too direct in very formal situations. For example, saying 'I want a promotion' might be better expressed as 'I would like a promotion' in a job interview. |
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Frequently asked questions: Feel like vs Want
What's the difference between Feel like and Want?
Feel like: to have a particular emotion or desire Want: to desire or wish for something
Which is more common: Feel like and Want?
Want is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Feel like: I feel like going for a walk today. Want: I want to eat pizza for dinner.
Can I use Feel like and Want interchangeably?
Not always. Feel like and Want are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.