perform

[ per-fawrm ]

verb (used with object)

1. to carry out; execute; do:

   to perform miracles.

2. to go through or execute in the proper, customary, or established manner:

   to perform the marriage ceremony.

3. to carry into effect; fulfill:

   Perform what you promise.

   Synonyms: effect, achieve, accomplish

4. to enact (a play, part, etc.), as on the stage, in movies, or on television.
5. to render (music), as by playing or singing.
6. to accomplish (any action involving skill or ability), as before an audience:

   to perform a juggling act.

7. to complete.
8. to exhibit behaviors associated with (a particular social role or identity):

   This study investigates the ways in which biracial Americans perform race in their day-to-day lives.

9. to behave in ways that exhibit (a socially acceptable belief, trait, or quality), often merely for show:

   Nineteenth-century British women found in the antislavery movement a perfect way to perform empathy.

verb (used without object)

1. to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking.
2. to execute or do something.
3. to act in a play:

   to perform in the role of Romeo.

4. to perform music.
5. to go through any performance.
6. (of loans, investments, etc.) to yield a profit; earn income.
7. to have sexual intercourse:

   I could not perform in my first intimate encounter with the love of my life.

perform

/ pəˈfɔːm /

verb

1. to carry out or do (an action)
2. tr to fulfil or comply with

   to perform someone's request

3. to present or enact (a play, concert, etc) before or otherwise entertain an audience

   the group performed Hamlet

4. informal.
   intr to accomplish sexual intercourse

   he performed well

Derived Forms

• perˈformable, adjective
• perˈformer, noun

Other Words From

• per·form·a·ble adjective
• per·form·er noun
• mis·per·form verb
• o·ver·per·form verb
• re·per·form verb (used with object)
• self-per·formed adjective
• un·per·form·a·ble adjective
• un·per·formed adjective
• un·per·form·ing adjective
• well-per·formed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perform¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English parformen, from Anglo-French parformer, alteration (by association with forme form ) of Middle French, Old French parfournir “to accomplish”; per-, furnish

Word History and Origins

Origin of perform¹

C14: from Anglo-Norman perfourmer (influenced by forme form ), from Old French parfournir, from par- per- + fournir to provide; see furnish

Synonym Study

Perform, discharge, execute, transact mean to carry to completion a prescribed course of action. Perform is the general word, often applied to ordinary activity as a more formal expression than do, but usually implying regular, methodical, or prolonged application or work: to perform an exacting task. Discharge implies carrying out an obligation, often a formal or legal one: to discharge one's duties as a citizen. Execute means either to carry out an order or to carry through a plan or program: to execute a maneuver. Transact, meaning to conduct or manage, has commercial connotations: to transact business.

Example Sentences

He had Steinway program a player piano to perform “Mad Rush” with Glass pounding playing style, and he had his roaming camera observe the big cat’s response to the music.

From Los Angeles Times

"We can perform transformations of motion so that gravity and electromagnetism can be deduced from the same equation of spacetime."

From Salon

Hollie says it was actually their job in the prisons service that gave them the confidence to perform.

From BBC

And at poorly performing trusts, government and NHS England "deep dives" will identify the most pressing issues and how they can be resolved.

From BBC

"We performed medical examinations on two men who were lying unconscious...Unfortunately, their injuries were too severe and after the examinations we had to determine the death of both of them."

From BBC

Related Words

• achieve
• act
• behave
• complete
• do
• execute
• finish
• function
• implement
• meet
• observe
• operate
• take
• work