encore
Americaninterjection
noun
-
encores
plural
-
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.
-
the performance or reappearance in response to such a demand.
He chose a Chopin nocturne for his encore.
-
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
-
to call for a repetition of.
-
to call for an encore from (a performer).
interjection
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
encoresimple
-
encoressimple
-
have encoredperfect
-
has encoredperfect
-
am encoringprogressive
-
are encoringprogressive
-
is encoringprogressive
-
have been encoringperfect progressive
-
has been encoringperfect progressive
Past
-
encoredsimple
-
had encoredperfect
-
was encoringprogressive
-
were encoringprogressive
-
had been encoringperfect progressive
Future
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?"
Vocabulary lists containing encore
Do-Over: Words For Groundhog Day
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English Words Derived from French, List 4
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Theater - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
For his encore performance, he oversaw the launch of the colorful, see-through iMacs and eventually started three new product categories—the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Over the weekend, the encore presentation of the Walt Disney film took in $26 million in North America, for a global total of $86 million, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations, a tracking firm.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
When I was a kid, it was a Sunday religion with a Monday night encore.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026
For an encore he helped reduce Essex from 171-3 to 177 all out in the space of 26 balls, his five wickets coming in 14 deliveries without conceding a run.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
The roar of applause came from thousands of shimmering purple ghosts, the Lares of Rome brought back for an encore performance.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
She was introduced by Johnny Cash and received three encores.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
As with previous years, the evening concluded with a series of showstopping encores, including Springsteen’s performance of “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”
From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2025
A great start ... and yet one major hurdle between this and the mandatory repeated encores.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2024
Their enthusiasm delighted conductor Marin Alsop, who ordered several impromptu encores.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2023
A showy solo in an Italian opera might elicit spontaneous applause and even encores.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
After “Californication” and an extra rollicking “Give It Away,” the Chilis encored with anthemic renditions of “Soul to Squeeze” and “By the Way” that’ll have ’em rolling around in our heads for another few decades.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2022
The band encored with their classic tune "Casino Queen," the name of a riverboat casino in East St. Louis, Illinois.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2021
Faiyaz encored with the song but directed the audience to sing along with the record, rather than singing it himself.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 11, 2018
A classic commercial parody was encored live: Super Bass-o-Matic, with pitchman Dan Aykroyd and Laraine Newmain repeating their performances from 1976.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 16, 2015
He gave pantomimic representations of T. P. Cooke and Taglioni, sang half-a-dozen songs that are nightly encored at the Surrey side, and finally performed a series of antique statues in his shirt-sleeves.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 355, May 1845 by Various
Love wrapped up the regular set with another brief shot of the Stones' "Sympathy" before encoring with Hole's "Doll Parts."
From Reuters ● Apr. 26, 2010
When he finished, and the audience was tumultuously encoring him, a hand was laid on the arm of the tallest of the three men, who stood apart from the crowd.
From Belford's Magazine, Vol 2, December 1888 by Various
The wine-shop family encircled her, encoring her vociferously.
From The Sentimental Adventures of Jimmy Bulstrode by Marie Van Vorst
Listen, they are going on with it, they are encoring something.
From Woman and Artist by Max O'Rell
"They won't dream of encoring me," scoffed Anne, who was not without her own secret hopes that they would, and already visioned herself telling Matthew all about it at the next morning's breakfast table.
From Anne of Green Gables by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
