A feat is an impressive achievement that requires skill, courage, or strength. When gymnasts execute a perfect triple backflip, that's an athletic feat. When engineers build a bridge across a massive canyon, that's an engineering feat. When a student memorizes all 50 state capitals in one afternoon, that's a feat of memory.

The word suggests something remarkable or difficult. Getting dressed in the morning isn't a feat, but climbing to the top of a rock wall on your first try might be. Feats often involve overcoming obstacles or doing something that most people would find challenging. A feat of strength might mean lifting something incredibly heavy, while a feat of endurance could mean running a marathon without stopping.

You'll often see feat used when describing historical accomplishments: the Wright Brothers' first flight was a remarkable feat of aviation, and landing humans on the moon was an extraordinary feat of science and engineering. In stories, heroes perform brave feats, like rescuing someone from danger or defeating a powerful opponent.

The phrase “no small feat” emphasizes how difficult something is. If someone says “finishing that 1,000-piece puzzle was no small feat,” they mean it took real effort and skill. When you accomplish something challenging through hard work and determination, you've pulled off quite a feat.