perform

American  

[per-fawrm] / pərˈfɔrm /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• misperform verb
• overperform verb
• performable adjective
• performer noun
• reperform verb (used with object)
• self-performed adjective
• unperformable adjective
• unperformed adjective
• unperforming adjective
• well-performed adjective

Etymology

Origin of perform

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

Explanation

To perform most often means to sing, dance act or put on any kind of show. Perform also means, however, to carry out almost any function or action — to do something, in other words. Parents love to watch their kids perform. Nothing delights mommy or daddy more than watching junior sing or dance in the school play. Later in life, though, they'll be happy when their kids perform acts of kindness or when they perform the duties required of them by their jobs. "The surgeon entertained the other doctors when he performed an aria from Rigoletto while he performed an appendectomy." Now that's impressive.

Example Sentences

Another one of his tattoos is from another television series, Prison Break - and he is still waiting to feel the freedom to perform and for his talent to truly break out.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Jaslene Massey of Aliso Niguel is among the best all time to compete in the girls’ shot put and discus, and she always likes to perform well at Arcadia.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

The print will set the tone for expectations on how China will perform this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

If local police or ICE officers perform these checks, Flowers said, the non-response problem can be compounded and the program is all too easily diverted from prioritizing the well-being of children.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Nhamo hurried to perform the final chores of the day after Aunt Chipo and Masvita had left.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

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