perform

per·form

Use perform in a sentence

A medical team performs surgery.

verb

Perform is defined as to complete something, to meet the requirements or to act in a show.

An example of perform is for a doctor to do surgery.
An example of perform is for a person to fulfill a promise.
An example of perform is for an actor to play a role in a musical.

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MLA Style

"perform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM>.

APA Style

perform. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM

perform

to act on so as to accomplish or bring to completion; execute; carry out (a task, process, etc.)
to carry out; meet the requirements of; fulfill (a promise, command, etc.)
to give a performance of; render or enact (a piece of music, a dramatic role, etc.)

Origin of perform

Middle English performen from Anglo-French parformer, altered (infl. by forme, form) from Old French parfournir, to perform, consummate from par ( from Classical Latin per-, intensive ) + fornir, to accomplish, furnish

to carry out or execute an action or process; esp., to take part in a musical program, act in a play, dance, etc. before an audience
to admit of being performed as specified: a play that performs well
to operate or function: used with regard to a thing's effectiveness: tires that perform well on wet pavement
to produce gains or losses as specified: stocks performed poorly in the third quarter

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MLA Style

"perform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM>.

APA Style

perform. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM

perform

verb

per·formed, per·form·ing, per·forms

verb

transitive

To begin and carry through to completion; do: The surgeon performed the operation.
To take action in accordance with the requirements of; fulfill: perform one's contractual obligations.
a. To enact (a feat or role) before an audience.
b. To give a public presentation of; present: My theater group performed a three-act play.

verb

intransitive

To function or accomplish something as expected or required: a car that performs well on curves; workers not performing up to standard.
To yield a return on investment: stocks that performed well.
To portray a role or demonstrate a skill before an audience: The juggler performed atop a unicycle.
To present a dramatic or musical work or other entertainment before an audience.

Origin of perform

Middle English performen from Anglo-Norman performer from Old French parfornir par- intensive pref. ( from Latin per- per- ) fournir to furnish ; see furnish .

Related Forms:

per·form′a·ble
adjective

per·form′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"perform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM>.

APA Style

perform. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM

perform

perform execute accomplish achieve effect fulfill discharge

These verbs signify to carry through to completion. To perform is to carry out an action, undertaking, or procedure, often with great skill or care. The ship's captain performed the wedding ceremony. Laser experiments are performed regularly in the laboratory. Execute implies performing a task or putting something into effect in accordance with a plan or design: “To execute laws is a royal office; to execute orders is not to be a king” (Edmund Burke). Accomplish connotes the successful completion of something, often of something that requires tenacity or talent: “Make one brave push and see what can be accomplished in a week” (Robert Louis Stevenson). To achieve is to accomplish something, often something significant, especially despite difficulty: “Some are born great . . . Some achieve greatness . . . And some have greatness thrust upon them” (Shakespeare). Effect suggests the power of an agent to bring about a desired result: The prescribed antibiotics didn't effect a complete cure. To fulfill is to live up to expectations or satisfy demands, wishes, or requirements: All their desires could not be fulfilled. To discharge an obligation or duty is to perform all the steps necessary for its fulfillment: “I have found it impossible . . . to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do” (Edward VIII).

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"perform." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 25 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM>.

APA Style

perform. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/PERFORM

Verb

(third-person singular simple present performs, present participle performing, simple past and past participle performed)

To do something; to execute.
The scientists performed several experiments. It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.
To do something in front of an audience, often in order to entertain it.
She will perform in the play. The magician performed badly - none of his tricks worked. The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.

Anagrams

preform

Origin

From Middle English performen, parfournen (“to perform"), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform"), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish"), from Frankish *frumjan (“to accomplish, furnish"), from Proto-Germanic *frumjanÄ…, *framjanÄ… (“to further, promote, accomplish, furnish, carry out"), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth"), *per- (“forward, out"). Cognate with Old High German frummen (“to do, execute, accomplish, provide"), Old Saxon frummian (“to perform, promote"), Old English fremman (“to perform, execute, carry out, accomplish"), Gothic ð†ð‚ðŒ¿ðŒ¼ðŒ¾ðŒ°ðŒ½ (frumjan, “to promote, accomplish"). See also frame, from.