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performance definition

per·form·ance (pər fôr′məns)

noun

  1. the act of performing; execution, accomplishment, fulfillment, etc.
  2. operation or functioning, usually with regard to effectiveness, as of a machine
  3. something done or performed; deed or feat
    1. a formal exhibition or presentation before an audience, as a play, musical program, etc.; show
    2. one's part in this

Etymology: LME parfourmaunce < MFr

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business performance definition - business

law performance definition - legal

performance Synonyms

performance

n.

  1. The fulfilling of a function

    completion, fulfillment, attainment, doing, achievement, accomplishment, execution, carrying out, administration, enforcement, consummation, realization, fruition.

    Antonyms failure*, unfulfillment, frustration. *

  2. A public presentation

    production, appearance, rehearsal, exhibition, offering, representation, pageant, burlesque, spectacle, review, revue, opera, masque, play, drama, dance recital, concert, exhibit, display, special*; see also act 4, drama 1, show 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

performance Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • improve: She explains how sports science support can help to improve athletic performance... Q: In simple terms, what is sports science?

Adjective modifier

  • improved: That's why our improved service performance to applicants is important.

Modifies a noun

  • indicator: Gives advice on how to use the Scottish school library performance indicators for self-evaluation.

Noun used with modifier

  • solo: The solo performance is a demonstration of your skills to date and your confidence as a performer.
performance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

performance quotes

Any performance is discussable from the standpoint of what it attains or what it misses.Comprehensiveness can be discussed as superficiality, intensiveness as stricture, tolerance as uncertaintyöand the poor pedestrian abilities of a fish are clearly explainable in terms of his excellence as a swimmer. A way of seeing is also a way of not seeing.

-Burke, Kenneth

His moral character†was full of promise, but of no performance.

-Dickens, CharlesJohn Huffam

No major institution in the US has so poor a record of performance over so long a period as the Federal Reserve, yet so high a public reputation.

-Friedman, Milton

performance quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"performance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/performance>

APA Style

performance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/performance

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