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feature

American  

[fee-cher] / ˈfi tʃər /

noun

• features
  plural

1. a prominent or conspicuous part or characteristic.

   Tall buildings were a new feature on the skyline.

2. something offered as a special attraction.

   This model has several added features.

3. Also called feature film. the main motion picture in a movie program.

   What time is the feature?

4. any part of the face, as the nose, chin, or eyes.

   prominent features.

5. features, the face; countenance.

   to compose one's features for the photographers.

6. the form or cast of the face.

   delicate of feature.

7. a column, cartoon, etc., appearing regularly in a newspaper or magazine.

8. feature story.

9. Archaic. make, form, or shape.

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verb (used with object)

• features,
  present (3rd person singular)
• featured,
  past participle,  past
• featuring
  present participle

1. to be a feature or distinctive mark of.

   It was industrial expansion that featured the last century.

2. to make a feature of; give prominence to.

   to feature a story or picture in a newspaper.

3. to delineate the main characteristics of; depict; outline.

4. Informal. to conceive of; imagine; fancy.

   He couldn't quite feature himself as a bank president.

5. Older Use. to resemble in features; favor.

verb (used without object)

• features,
  present (3rd person singular)
• featured,
  past participle,  past
• featuring
  present participle

1. to play a major part.

feature British  

/ ˈfiːtʃə /

noun

1. any one of the parts of the face, such as the nose, chin, or mouth

2. a prominent or distinctive part or aspect, as of a landscape, building, book, etc

3. the principal film in a programme at a cinema

4. an item or article appearing regularly in a newspaper, magazine, etc

   a gardening feature

5. Also called: feature story. a prominent story in a newspaper, etc

   a feature on prison reform

6. a programme given special prominence on radio or television as indicated by attendant publicity

7. an article offered for sale as a special attraction, as in a large retail establishment

8. archaic general form or make-up

9. linguistics a quality of a linguistic unit at some level of description

   grammatical feature

   semantic feature

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verb

1. (tr) to have as a feature or make a feature of

2. to give prominence to (an actor, famous event, etc) in a film or (of an actor, etc) to have prominence in a film

3. 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. 

Feature can also mean a special attraction or enticing quality that something has. Not all features are necessarily useful and, especially in advertising, they are often added to amaze rather than perform a useful function.

• 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.

As a verb, feature means to draw special attention to something or to shine the spotlight on it. If something is featured, it is mentioned first, given the most time, advertised most heavily, or invested the most effort into.

• 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

• underfeature
  noun
• transfeature
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• features
  plural

Participles

• featuring
  present
• featured
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• feature
  simple
• features
  simple
• have featured
  perfect
• has featured
  perfect
• am featuring
  progressive
• are featuring
  progressive
• is featuring
  progressive
• have been featuring
  perfect progressive
• has been featuring
  perfect progressive

Past

• featured
  simple
• had featured
  perfect
• was featuring
  progressive
• were featuring
  progressive
• had been featuring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will feature
  simple
• will have featured
  perfect
• will be featuring
  progressive
• will have been featuring
  perfect progressive

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

feature features featured featuring

The restaurants tend to feature low-lighting and industrial color schemes, which give them the modern vibe of a club that also happens to smell like freshly grilled meat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● 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

The researchers envision a future in which accurate optical sensing becomes a routine feature of everyday technology rather than something largely confined to specialized laboratories.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Dr. Bigelow tackles that question head-on: "The leading feature of this case is its improbability," Dr. Bigelow admits.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

The content creator puts these features down to her iron levels.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

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

See the best car insurance companies based on our analysis of costs, coverage features and more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

"When we examined Yuezhuornis, we were struck by its extraordinary mix of features," said Dr. Min Wang, corresponding author of the study.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

I recalled how Yakov had looked on the night he died, his features bathed in the garish glow of fireworks.

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

Scrolling through a "relaxing jazz piano playlist" with over 370,000 saves on Spotify, he spots that top featured artists that rack up hundreds of thousands of monthly listens have unverified accounts.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Somerset House on the Strand also featured as St Petersburg in GoldenEye and was also the location in 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies where Bond pulls up for a meeting with M.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

The show featured in-depth conversations with prominent figures in politics, science, and the arts.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

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

Twenty-five Canadian players are contracted for the 2026-27 season, with 11 featuring in July's PWR final between Saracens and Trailfinders.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

In a move reeking of desperation, Ramaswamy’s campaign ran a spot featuring Acton’s elderly mother, Donna Arthur, calling her daughter a “liar” and suggesting she suffers from severe mental illness.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

Your daily dive into MarketWatch, featuring story spotlights, market movers and more you Need To Know to start your day.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

At a solidarity rally held in Tison's honor, picketers wore T-shirts that read "Race-Baiting Should Be a Crime" while holding signs featuring Tison's face and the words "Protector not Poster Child."

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

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