encore

American  

[ahng-kawr, -kohr, ahn-] / ˈɑŋ kɔr, -koʊr, ˈɑn- /

interjection

1. again; once more (used by an audience in calling for an additional number or piece).

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noun

1. a demand, as by applause, for a repetition of a song, act, etc., or for a performance of a number or piece additional to those on a program, or for a reappearance by the performers, as at the end of a concert, recital, etc.

2. the performance or reappearance in response to such a demand.

   He chose a Chopin nocturne for his encore.

3. any repeated or additional performance or appearance, as a rerun of a telecast or a rematch in sports.

verb (used with object)

encores, present (3rd person singular) encored, past participle, past encoring present participle

1. to call for a repetition of.

2. to call for an encore from (a performer).

encore British  

/ ˈɒŋkɔː /

interjection

1. again; once more: used by an audience to demand an extra or repeated performance

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noun

1. an extra or repeated performance given in response to enthusiastic demand

verb

1. (tr) to demand an extra or repeated performance of (a work, piece of music, etc) by (a performer)

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has encored
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have encored
  perfect
• has been encoring
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am encoring
  progressive 1st person singular
• are encoring
  progressive
• have been encoring
  perfect progressive
• encores
  singular 3rd person
• is encoring
  progressive 3rd person singular
• encoring
  participle

Past

• had encored
  perfect
• were encoring
  progressive plural
• encored
  participle
• encored
  simple
• had been encoring
  perfect progressive
• was encoring
  progressive singular

Future

• will encore
  simple
• will have encored
  perfect
• will have been encoring
  perfect progressive
• will be encoring
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of encore

1705–15; < French: still, yet, besides < Latin hinc hā hōrā or hinc ad hōram until this hour

Explanation

A performance that's repeated or added to the regular performance is called an encore. If you can't hear anything because of last night's concert, it might be because the band played for two hours and then did a thirty minute encore. Encore is a French word meaning "again." Audiences often yell "Encore!" if a play, song, or other act has been particularly good. In essence they are shouting "Again!" After a musical number, the encore may take the form of a repeated verse or chorus. At the end of a concert, the encore may be a whole extra set. The word is sometimes used sarcastically: "Well, you flunked math. What are you going to do for an encore?"

Example Sentences

Michael Paulus, founder of wealth manager PCM Encore, recommends direct indexing for nearly all his clients, particularly those close to retirement who will need to sell highly appreciated stocks to fund it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

His Doing Fine Encore tour includes a date in Folkestone on 6 March, while he will appear as Dr Frank‑N‑Furter at Eastbourne's Congress Theatre in May.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Hankel, the older-worker experts at the Encore webinar panel and LinkedIn authorities have seven smart tips for finding jobs in retirement:

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Santa Monica College has been offering a free noncredit Emeritus program for 50 years, and Pierce College in Woodland Hills has a similar program called Encore.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2024

And when I played his favorite airs he would call out "Encore," and I would play the piece over again.

From Nobody's Boy Sans Famille by Crewe-Jones, Florence