‘How Are You Feeling Now/Today?' Meaning, Definition, and How to Reply

Did someone ask you, ‘how are you feeling now/today’ and you’re wondering what it means? In this article, we’ll take a look at the meaning, examples, and more.

‘How are you feeling now’ and ‘how are you feeling today’ are two ways to inquire into another person’s current physical or emotional state.

You might ask someone this question if you know that they had been physically sick or emotionally upset in the recent past, and you want to check in on whether their physical or emotional state has changed since you last spoke.

What Does 'How Are You Feeling Now/Today?' Mean?

‘How are you feeling now’ and ‘how are you feeling today’ are two ways that a person can ask another individual as an inquiry into the state of their health.

Either version of this question can be used in reference to someone’s physical or mental health.

For example, if your friend has had a cold recently and you want to check up on them, you might ask:

• ‘How are you feeling now’ or 'how are you feeling today.’

At the same time, you could use either version of the question to inquire about someone’s mental health or emotional state. If your friend recently broke up with her boyfriend and she has been very upset about it, you might say, ‘how are you feeling today?’ when you see her next to inquire about how she is doing emotionally.

The word ‘feeling’ has a number of different definitions, and it’s worth exploring these to understand the meaning of these phrases.

According to Merriam-Webster, the definitions of ‘feeling’ are:

• Noun “One of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch are characteristic: touch.”
• Noun “A sensation experienced through the sense of touch.”
• Noun “Generalized bodily consciousness or sensation.”
• Noun “appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition.”
• Noun “An emotional state or reaction.”
• Noun “The undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought.”
• Noun “Often unreasoned opinion or belief.”
• Noun “Capacity to respond emotionally, especially with higher emotions.”
• Noun “The character ascribed to something.”
• Noun “The quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist.”
• Adjective “Easily moved emotionally.”
• Adjective “Deeply felt” (obsolete)
• Adjective “Expressing emotion or sensitivity

The definitions that apply to ‘how are you feeling now’ and ‘how are you feeling today’ are numbers 3 and 5 in our list.

‘How Are You Feeling Now’

Though ‘how are you feeling today’ and ‘how are you feeling now’ are very similar, there are some subtle differences.

For instance, you might ask someone, ‘how are you feeling now’ when you saw them a few hours before, and they were feeling sick. It implies that you have recently been in contact with them, and you are wondering if they have experienced a change for the better.

An example of this would be if your friend wasn’t feeling physically well in the morning and they went to take a nap. When they woke up, you might ask them, ‘how are you feeling now?’ This implies a comparison between how they feel currently versus how they were feeling before their nap.

This phrase doesn’t only have to be used when a person has an illness, though. Let’s say that you and your friend went for a hike, and they neglected to bring enough water. If they felt very dehydrated and then finally drank some more water when they got back to the trailhead, you might as, ‘how are you feeling now?’ to inquire about whether drinking water helped them feel better.

It could also be used whenever you have known about someone’s feelings on a topic in the past, and you want to check in on how they are feeling about that same topic currently.

For example, let’s say that your coworker was irritated by the new boss. After some time has passed, you might ask them:

• “I know you were annoyed with the boss last time we talked about it. Have your feelings changed? ‘How do you feel now’?

In some circumstances, you might use ‘how are you feeling now’ even when you haven’t spoken to the person particularly recently.

For example, let’s say that your friend that lives in a different city told you the last time you saw them that they were mad at their father. The next time you talk to them, you might say:

• “Last time we talked, you were angry with your father. ‘How are you feeling now’?”

‘How Are You Feeling Today’

‘How are you feeling today’ is a phrase you can use if you know someone has been sick, unwell, or emotionally distraught, and this is your first interaction with them for the day. Whether you spoke with them yesterday or last week, ‘how are you feeling today’ implies a comparison between the state of their health currently versus how it has been in previous days.

Like ‘how are you feeling now,’ ‘how are you feeling today’ can refer to someone’s physical or emotional health. If your friend’s dog passed away, for example, and they were very upset when you spoke with them several days ago, you might ask, ‘how are you feeling today’ to show that you want to know whether their emotional state has improved.

This question can be a nice way to check in on someone that you know has been ill or has been dealing with a difficult life experience. It prompts them to let you know how they are feeling, which can be a good opportunity for them to share their experience. When you ask someone ‘how are you feeling today,’ it shows that you care about them.

Examples of 'How Are You Feeling Now/Today?' In Sentences

How would ‘how are you feeling now/today’ be used in a sentence?

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• “How are you feeling today? It seems like you’ve been lying in bed all day.”
• “ He and I stayed out way too late last night, and I’m completely hungover. Enough about me, though– how are you feeling today?”
• “When I saw you last night, you looked absolutely terrible. I’m glad you left early to get some sleep. How are you feeling now?”
• “Sarah has been missing Bill a lot recently. When I asked her, ‘how are you feeling today?’ earlier, she just burst into tears.”
• “It’s good to hear that Johnny has been feeling better since I last saw him. What about you? How are you feeling today?”
• “ Sorry to bother you; I know you’re resting. I just wanted to check in on you and make sure you’re ok. How are you feeling today?”
• “I’m so sorry you weren’t feeling well this morning. Did taking a nap help? How are you feeling now?”

How to Reply

When someone asks 'how you are feeling today' or 'how are you feeling now,' they are checking in on your physical or emotional state. If you've been sick and you're feeling better, you might say:

"Thanks for asking; I'm doing a lot better today."

If you were upset the last time you saw them and you are feeling better, you might say:

"I'm much better now, thank you."

On the other hand, if you are still sick or feeling worse than you were, you might say:

"I appreciate you asking. I'm still not feeling well, unfortunately."

If you had been upset in the past and are still not feeling well from an emotional standpoint, you might say:

"I'm having a hard day, honestly. Thanks for asking."

When you respond to these questions, you can give as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with. You can use it as an opportunity to share how you feel, or you can simply say, "I'm doing well, thanks," if you don't want to share the details of how you're feeling.

Final Thoughts About ‘How Are You Feeling Now/Today’

‘How are you feeling now’ and ‘how are you feeling today’ are two ways to ask another person about their current physical or emotional state. You could ask an individual this question if you know that they haven’t been feeling well– either physically or emotionally– in the recent past. These questions imply that you want to check in on whether their physical or emotional state has changed since the last time you saw or spoke to them.

Are you ready to continue expanding your English vocabulary? If so, don’t forget to check out our idioms blog for more idioms, expressions, phrases, sayings, and proverbs!