Feat Meaning
/fiːt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA relatively rare or difficult accomplishment.
adjDexterous in movements or service; skilful; neat; pretty.
Sentence Examples
The player performed a wonderful feat.
Her skating performance was a regular feat.
The tunnel is a remarkable feat of engineering.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Climbing the highest mountain without oxygen was an incredible ____ of endurance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Building the Great Pyramid was a remarkable ____ of engineering that continues to amaze people today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English [Term?], from Anglo-Norman fet (“action, deed”), from Old French fait, from Latin factum, from facere (“to do, to make”). Doublet of fact.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Indeed, this discovery of meaning in symbols may be the most astounding intellectual feat that any human being ever performs—and most humans perform it before they are seven years old!"
— 1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25:
"Bradford may have lost on the night but they stubbornly protected a 3-1 first-leg advantage to emulate a feat last achieved by Rochdale in 1962."
— 2013 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4)”, in BBC:
"[…] she set downe her period on the face of Alexis, thinking he was the fairest, and the featest swaine of all the rest."
— 1590, Robert Greene, “The Shepheards Tale”, in Greenes Mourning Garment, London: Thomas Newman, page 17:
"Oh you high sp’rited Paragons of witte,
That flye to fame beyond our earthly pitch,
Whose sence is sound, whose words are feat and fitte,
Able to make the coyest eare to itch:
Shroud with your mighty wings that mount so well,
These little loues, new crept from out the shell."
— 1593, Thomas Lodge, “Induction”, in Phillis, London: John Busbie:
"[…] never master had
A page so kind, so duteous, diligent,
So tender over his occasions, true,
So feat, so nurse-like:"
— 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Climbing the highest mountain without oxygen was an incredible ____ of endurance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Building the Great Pyramid was a remarkable ____ of engineering that continues to amaze people today.