feature
Americannoun
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features
plural
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a prominent or conspicuous part or characteristic.
Tall buildings were a new feature on the skyline.
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something offered as a special attraction.
This model has several added features.
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Also called feature film. the main motion picture in a movie program.
What time is the feature?
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any part of the face, as the nose, chin, or eyes.
prominent features.
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features, the face; countenance.
to compose one's features for the photographers.
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the form or cast of the face.
delicate of feature.
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a column, cartoon, etc., appearing regularly in a newspaper or magazine.
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Archaic. make, form, or shape.
verb (used with object)
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features,
present (3rd person singular)
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featured,
past participle, past
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featuring
present participle
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to be a feature or distinctive mark of.
It was industrial expansion that featured the last century.
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to make a feature of; give prominence to.
to feature a story or picture in a newspaper.
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to delineate the main characteristics of; depict; outline.
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Informal. to conceive of; imagine; fancy.
He couldn't quite feature himself as a bank president.
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Older Use. to resemble in features; favor.
verb (used without object)
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features,
present (3rd person singular)
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featured,
past participle, past
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featuring
present participle
noun
-
any one of the parts of the face, such as the nose, chin, or mouth
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a prominent or distinctive part or aspect, as of a landscape, building, book, etc
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the principal film in a programme at a cinema
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an item or article appearing regularly in a newspaper, magazine, etc
a gardening feature
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Also called: feature story. a prominent story in a newspaper, etc
a feature on prison reform
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a programme given special prominence on radio or television as indicated by attendant publicity
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an article offered for sale as a special attraction, as in a large retail establishment
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archaic general form or make-up
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linguistics a quality of a linguistic unit at some level of description
grammatical feature
semantic feature
verb
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(tr) to have as a feature or make a feature of
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to give prominence to (an actor, famous event, etc) in a film or (of an actor, etc) to have prominence in a film
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informal (tr) to imagine; consider
I can't feature that happening
Usage
What is a basic definition of feature? A feature is a distinctive trait or a special attraction. Feature can also mean to give special attention to something. The word feature has several other senses as a noun and a verb. A feature is a unique quality or characteristic that something has.
- Real-life examples: Elaborately colored tail feathers are peacocks’ most well-known feature. Earth has many features, such as a particular atmosphere, abundance of water, and temperature that make it able to sustain life. Platypuses have many features that are unusual in mammals, such as a bill and the ability to lay eggs.
- Used in a sentence: My house is really boring and doesn’t have any cool features that set it apart from every other house in the neighborhood.
- Real-life examples: Smartphones often have many features, such as Bluetooth technology, a camera, and many other additions that entice customers to buy it. People who buy cars are often interested in extra features, such as rear-view cameras, automated steering, and heated seats.
- Used in a sentence: I always go for cameras with lots of neat features, like custom white balancing.
- Real-life examples: Movie advertising often features a big star on posters and in commercials even if the person is barely in the movie. The main event fight is usually featured by boxing or mixed martial arts promoters because it will attract the most ticket buyers.
- Used in a sentence: I really like this song because it features the drummer the most.
Synonym Usage
Feature, characteristic, peculiarity refer to a distinctive trait of an individual or of a class. Feature suggests an outstanding or marked property that attracts attention: Complete harmony was a feature of the convention. Characteristic means a distinguishing mark or quality (or one of such) always associated in one's mind with a particular person or thing: Defiance is one of his characteristics. Peculiarity means that distinct or unusual characteristic that marks off an individual in the class to which he, she, or it belongs: A blue-black tongue is a peculiarity of the chow chow.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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featuresimple
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featuressimple
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have featuredperfect
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has featuredperfect
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am featuringprogressive
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are featuringprogressive
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is featuringprogressive
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have been featuringperfect progressive
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has been featuringperfect progressive
Past
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featuredsimple
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had featuredperfect
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was featuringprogressive
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were featuringprogressive
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had been featuringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of feature
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English feture, from Anglo-French, Middle French faiture, from Latin factūra “formation, manufacture.” See fact, -ure
Explanation
A feature is a part of something that makes it special or able to work better, such as a bonus feature on a DVD or a smartphone feature that provides faster Internet connections. The word feature has both a noun and a verb form used to describe a main characteristic, as in a car's safety features or a restaurant menu that features Italian dishes. In addition, feature can refer to a newspaper or magazine article that provides in-depth information, like a feature about the First Lady and her life. You’ve probably also heard it used to describe a main part of the face, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Vocabulary lists containing feature
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
These connections suggest that the visions may arise from a fundamental feature of the way the human brain processes visual information.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
Burnham's willingness to re-open some of the most sensitive debates in British politics has been a feature of his first months in power.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
He teased that a Dec. 4 Listening Room event in Seattle for India Arie’s “Acoustic Soul” will feature a special guest.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
This is DeFalco’s debut feature after making several skits about weirdos with warped goals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
One shocking feature of the Germans’ early-morning attack on June 22 was that they destroyed hundreds of Soviet aircraft on the ground.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Titled Back To The Beginning, it features more than 25 of the songs played at that star-studded concert, including Ozzy's solo set and Sabbath's entire performance.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
The content creator puts these features down to her iron levels.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Some skeletal features may indicate an aquatic lifestyle, while others suggest that the same animal remained capable of moving and feeding on land.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
See the best car insurance companies based on our analysis of costs, coverage features and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
Even the darkness couldn’t conceal the rage burning in her features.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
For its technical team, "Wildwood" marks a milestone in terms of the expressions created, and the menagerie of animals featured.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
The actors whose voices are featured in the film also helped shape how their characters move.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
And the oldest restaurant in London, Rules in Covent Garden, also featured in Spectre, hosting M, Q and Moneypenny.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Babydoll was released on 7 August - months after Miller considered quitting music - and exploded after actress Jennifer Love Hewitt posted videos which featured the track.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
It featured part of a woman's face, one Ella didn't recognize.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Her first album, “Los Ángeles,” became an avant-garde take on the centuries-old tradition, featuring influences of pop and rock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Few of those selected for this tournament bear the scars of that encounter, with a youthful and dynamic squad featuring only six of the team from the Sin City debacle.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
It appears that the image was only used as the team’s profile pic briefly before being replaced by one featuring a side view of the throwback helmet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Contrast those misty memories with Monday’s connubial proof-of-life photo-op featuring Donald Trump and his oft-absentee wife, Melania, signing an executive order creating a task force on women’s health.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
He pointed out, entirely correctly as far as I knew, that movies featuring prison guards portrayed them as cold and brutal, without exception.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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