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

Rolling Stone called it an “insane concert venue.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

He also once asked a mother to move midway through a New World Symphony Orchestra concert in Florida, fearing the effect her restless child might have on the Adagio movement.

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

My dad even tried to impress him by telling him that my parents had seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Related Words

• gig
• musical
• recital
• show