Definition

1. Noun:
   • A physical feeling: The direct experience resulting from something stimulating a sense organ (touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing) or the body in general.
   • A vague or general mental impression or feeling: An emotional or intuitive feeling, not necessarily tied to a direct physical cause.
   • A state of widespread excitement and interest: A person, event, or thing that causes great public excitement, surprise, or shock.

Examples of Usage

• As a physical feeling:
  • The sensation of cold water on a hot day is refreshing.
  • After the anesthesia wore off, she felt a tingling sensation in her fingers.
• As a general mental impression:
  • He had the strange sensation that he was being watched.
  • A sensation of dread filled the room.
• As a cause of public excitement:
  • The young singer became an overnight sensation.
  • The scandal was a major sensation in the news.

Advanced Usage

• "To cause/create a sensation": To become very popular or famous suddenly, or to cause great public excitement.
  • The new theory caused a sensation in the scientific community.
• "Overnight sensation": A person or thing that becomes extremely famous or popular very suddenly.
  • The app was an overnight sensation, gaining millions of users in a week.

Variants and Related Words

• Sense (n): Any of the faculties (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) by which the body perceives an external stimulus. Also, a feeling or perception.
• Sensational (adj):
  • Causing great public interest and excitement.

    • The newspaper published a sensational story.
  • Extremely good; wonderful (informal).

    • You look sensational in that dress!
• Sensationalize (v): To present information in a way that provokes public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy.
  • The media was accused of sensationalizing the tragedy.

Synonyms

• Feeling: A conscious mental reaction or emotional state; a physical sensation.
• Perception: The ability to become aware of something through the senses.
• Excitement: A feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness; something that arouses such a feeling.
• Phenomenon: A remarkable person, thing, or event.

Related Phrases

• Lose all sensation: To become numb; to lose the ability to feel physically.
  • My foot lost all sensation after sitting in the same position for an hour.
• A burning/prickling sensation: Specific descriptions of physical feelings.
  • The cream caused a mild burning sensation on the skin.

Related Idioms

• Make a (big) sensation: To cause a great stir or become very popular.
  • Her daring performance made a big sensation at the festival.

Noun

1. the faculty through which the external world is apprehended
   • in the dark he had to depend on touch and on his senses of smell and hearing
2. a state of widespread public excitement and interest
   • the news caused a sensation
3. a general feeling of excitement and heightened interest
   • anticipation produced in me a sensation somewhere between hope and fear
4. someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
5. an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
   • a sensation of touch