perform

[ per-fawrm ]

/ pərˈfɔrm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perform ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to carry out; execute; do: to perform miracles.

to go through or execute in the proper, customary, or established manner: to perform the marriage ceremony.

to carry into effect; fulfill: Perform what you promise.

to act (a play, part, etc.), as on the stage, in movies, or on television.

to render (music), as by playing or singing.

to accomplish (any action involving skill or ability), as before an audience: to perform a juggling act.

to complete.

verb (used without object)

to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking.

to execute or do something.

to act in a play: to perform in the role of Romeo.

to perform music.

to go through any performance.

(of loans, investments, etc.) to yield a profit; earn income.

Nearby words

Origin of perform

1250–1300; Middle English parformen < Anglo-French parformer, alteration (by association with forme form) of Middle French, Old French parfournir to accomplish. See per-, furnish

SYNONYMS FOR perform

3. accomplish, achieve, effect.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perform ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

per·form·a·ble, adjectiveper·form·er, nounmis·per·form, verbo·ver·per·form, verb

re·per·form, verb (used with object)self-per·formed, adjectiveun·per·form·a·ble, adjectiveun·per·formed, adjectiveun·per·form·ing, adjectivewell-per·formed, adjective

Synonym study

1. 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perform

His first language was Russian, then he learned Swedish, but chooses to perform in monosyllabic broken English.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’|Marlow Stern|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I felt very free there to sort of, you know, perform…not just doing guys and dolls and stuff.
The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll|Abby Haglage|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Daniels, 28, was allegedly the first to force “Jane Doe” to perform sexual acts on johns.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen|M.L. Nestel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was through this work that Bensoussan discovered there was a demand for ministers to perform weddings at jails and prisons.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He has only turned down a few weddings, claiming to perform around 80 percent of the prison marriages in the Los Angeles area.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unjustified refusal to perform the marital duty for at least one year.
Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World|Hyacinthe Ringrose
He altogether doubted his own powers to perform satisfactorily the task before him.
An Eye for an Eye|Anthony Trollope
We tell the child to perform a certain action toward which his own feeling and thought have made no stir whatever.
Concerning Children|Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Moreover, the ability to perform miracles is but a function of spirituality.
Carmen Ariza|Charles Francis Stocking
Many mules 25 years old, and now in this country, perform well.
Domestic Animals|Richard L. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for perform

perform

/ (pəˈfɔːm) /

verb

to carry out or do (an action)

(tr) to fulfil or comply withto perform someone's request

to present or enact (a play, concert, etc) before or otherwise entertain an audiencethe group performed Hamlet

(intr) informal to accomplish sexual intercoursehe performed well

Derived Formsperformable, adjectiveperformer, noun

Word Origin for perform

C14: from Anglo-Norman perfourmer (influenced by forme form), from Old French parfournir, from par- per- + fournir to provide; see furnish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perform

perform

c.1300, "carry into effect, fulfill, discharge," via Anglo-French performer, altered (by influence of Old French forme "form") from Old French parfornir "to do, carry out, finish, accomplish," from par- "completely" (see per-) + fornir "to provide" (see furnish).

Theatrical/musical sense is from c.1600. The verb was used with wider senses in Middle English than now, including "to make, construct; produce, bring about;" also "come true" (of dreams), and to performen muche time was "to live long." Related: Performed; performing.