concert

American  

[kon-surt, -sert, kuhn-surt] / ˈkɒn sɜrt, -sərt, kənˈsɜrt /

noun

1. a public musical performance in which a number of singers or instrumentalists, or both, participate.

2. a public performance, usually by an individual singer, instrumentalist, or the like; recital.

   The violinist has given concerts all over the world.

3. agreement of two or more individuals in a design or plan; combined action; accord or harmony.

   His plan was greeted with a concert of abuse.

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adjective

1. designed or intended for concerts.

   concert hall.

2. performed at concerts.

   concert music.

3. performing or capable of performing at concerts.

   a concert pianist.

verb (used with object)

1. to contrive or arrange by agreement.

   They were able to concert a settlement of their differences.

2. to plan; devise.

   A program of action was concerted at the meeting.

verb (used without object)

1. to plan or act together.

idioms

1. in concert, together; jointly.

   to act in concert.

concert British  

noun

1. 1. a performance of music by players or singers that does not involve theatrical staging Compare recital

   2. ( as modifier )

      a concert version of an opera

2. agreement in design, plan, or action

3. 1. acting in a co-ordinated fashion with a common purpose

   2. (of musicians, esp rock musicians) performing live

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verb

1. to arrange or contrive (a plan) by mutual agreement

Other Word Forms

• postconcert adjective

Etymology

Origin of concert

1595–1605; (noun) < French < Italian concerto; see concerto; (v.) < French concerter < Italian concertare to organize, arrange by mutual agreement, perhaps parasynthetically from con with + certo certain; Latin concertāre ( see concertation) is remote in sense

Explanation

A concert is a performance by musicians or singers for an audience. If you're in the glee club, you know about singing in concerts, and maybe you've seen your favorite bands in concert, too. A concert usually doesn't involve theatrical staging. You can have a concert version of an opera, but that means the singers stand there and sing without sets or props, and without much acting or moving around. Less commonly, concert is a verb (accent on the second syllable), meaning to agree with others on something. That meaning shows up in the phrase in concert — your objections will carry more weight if you act in concert with your neighbors.

Example Sentences

But Mother Mary’s performances are dextrously woven into a script that more closely resembles a stage play than a concert.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

He dialed into our interview from a tour bus departing from Austin, Texas, en route to the next concert venue on the Dinastía Tour by Peso Pluma, Tito Double P and friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

"The manager did not want to lose money from the ticket sales so he contacted my father to see if I could play the concert."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

The lawsuit comes a week after a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had operated a monopoly over major concert venues, controlling 86% of the concert market.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

I took off, bolting past the restroom doors and past the mural, and wove between music fans on picnic blankets and in lawn chairs waiting for the concert to start.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• gig
• musical
• recital
• show