View synonyms for

perform

[ per-fawrm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to carry out; execute; do:
to perform miracles.
to go through or execute in the proper, customary, or established manner:
to perform the marriage ceremony.
to carry into effect; fulfill:
Perform what you promise.
Synonyms: , ,
to enact (a play, part, etc.), as on the stage, in movies, or on television.
to render (music), as by playing or singing.
to accomplish (any action involving skill or ability), as before an audience:
to perform a juggling act.
to complete.
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.
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)

to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking.
to execute or do something.
to act in a play:
to perform in the role of Romeo.
to perform music.
to go through any performance.
(of loans, investments, etc.) to yield a profit; earn income.
to have sexual intercourse:
I could not perform in my first intimate encounter with the love of my life.

perform

/ ��əˈ��ɔː�� /

verb

to carry out or do (an action)
tr to fulfil or comply with
to perform someone's request
to present or enact (a play, concert, etc) before or otherwise entertain an audience
the group performed Hamlet
informal.
intr to accomplish sexual intercourse
he performed well

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Derived Forms

��ˈ�ڴǰ��, adjective
��ˈ�ڴǰ��, noun

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Other Word Forms

��·�ڴǰ��·��·�� adjective
��·�ڴǰ��·�� noun
��·��·�ڴǰ�� verb
��·��·��·�ڴǰ�� verb
��·��·�ڴǰ�� verb (used with object)
��-��·�ڴǰ�� adjective
un·��·�ڴǰ��·��·�� adjective
�ܲ�·��·�ڴǰ�� adjective
�ܲ�·��·�ڴǰ��·��Բ� adjective
�ɱ��-��·�ڴǰ�� adjective

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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

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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

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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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I perform abortions when they are wanted by women and within legal circumstances according to Polish law, so I don't feel like a murderer," she told the BBC.

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He performed in unconventional locations to raise money for the charity, including Mt.

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Their study identified 100 functions the robots could possibly perform with simple adjustments.

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Unusually, they perform most of their lyrics in Irish, reclaiming the language from rural folk music.

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Washington is set to perform his six-movement suite, “Harmony of Difference,” a concept album that was released to critical acclaim in 2017.

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Related Words

perforin performance

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