Cool MateFeeling vs Sensation
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Feeling
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Sensation
Beyond 10,000 (less common)C1noun
Most common: Feeling
| Feeling | Sensation | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfiːlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfiːlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/senˈseɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/senˈseɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | An emotion or state of mind. | a feeling or reaction you have when something happens |
| Example | I have a good feeling about this project. | The sensation of warmth from the fire was comforting on a cold night. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | strong, overwhelming, definite, experience, feel, get, come over somebody, creep over somebody, be mutual, feeling about, feeling of, deep, intense, strong, experience, harbour/harbor, have, sweep over somebody, wash over somebody, well up inside somebody, feeling about, feeling for, feeling of, no hard feelings, deep, intense, strong, experience, harbour/harbor, have, sweep over somebody, wash over somebody, well up inside somebody, feeling about, feeling for, feeling of, no hard feelings, deep, intense, strong, experience, harbour/harbor, have, sweep over somebody, wash over somebody, well up inside somebody, feeling about, feeling for, feeling of, no hard feelings, strong, overwhelming, definite, experience, feel, get, come over somebody, creep over somebody, be mutual, feeling about, feeling of, great, wonderful, genuine, have, develop, with feeling, feeling for, lose, regain, feeling in, great, wonderful, genuine, have, develop, with feeling, feeling for, create, recreate, feeling of | bodily, physical, tactile, experience, feel, have, come back, come over somebody, fill something, sensation in, sensation of, bodily, physical, tactile, experience, feel, have, come back, come over somebody, fill something, sensation in, sensation of, bodily, physical, tactile, experience, feel, have, come back, come over somebody, fill something, sensation in, sensation of, great, overnight, international, cause, create, become |
| Antonyms | apathy, indifference, detachment | numbness, insensitivity, indifference |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'feeling' with 'sense' in non-emotional contexts., Using 'feeling' as a countable noun (e.g., saying 'a feeling' when referring to a general emotion)., Omitting the gerund form when discussing ongoing emotions (e.g., 'I am feeling happy' vs. 'I feel happy'). | Confused with 'sensible' — don't mix up the meanings., Using 'sensation' as a verb — it is only a noun., Omitting the context, making the sentence unclear. |
| Usage notes | Use 'feeling' to express emotions or physical sensations. It's suitable for everyday conversations but may sound vague in formal writing. In specific contexts, you might use more precise terms for emotions. | Use 'sensation' to describe strong feelings or experiences, both physical and emotional. It's more common in neutral contexts like discussions about health, art, or emotions. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Feeling vs Sensation
What's the difference between Feeling and Sensation?
Feeling: An emotion or state of mind. Sensation: a feeling or reaction you have when something happens
Which is more common: Feeling and Sensation?
Feeling is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Feeling and Sensation?
Sensation is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Feeling and Sensation the same CEFR level?
Feeling: A1, Sensation: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Feeling and Sensation?
Feeling: noun, Sensation: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Feeling: I have a good feeling about this project. Sensation: The sensation of warmth from the fire was comforting on a cold night.
Can I use Feeling and Sensation interchangeably?
Not always. Feeling and Sensation 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.