performance
a musical, dramatic, or other entertainment presented before an audience.
the act of performing a ceremony, play, piece of music, etc.
the execution or accomplishment of work, acts, feats, etc.
a particular action, deed, or proceeding.
an action or proceeding of an unusual or spectacular kind: His temper tantrum was quite a performance.
the act of performing.
the manner in which or the efficiency with which something reacts or fulfills its intended purpose.
Linguistics. the actual use of language in real situations, which may or may not fully reflect a speaker's competence, being subject to such nonlinguistic factors as inattention, distraction, memory lapses, fatigue, or emotional state.: Compare competence (def. 6).
Origin of performance
1Other words from performance
- mis·per·form·ance, noun
- re·per·form·ance, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use performance in a sentence
There were the bevvy of performances promoting Beyoncé, too, which were characteristically spectacular.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect Year | Kevin Fallon | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome lesser-known live performances from the late rock legend.
So a lot of care was taken with it, with the story and the performances.
Inside the Lifetime Whitney Houston Movie’s Lesbian Lover Storyline | Kevin Fallon | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThose performances were the reason, Hitch said, he was less satisfied with Secret Agent than with Rebecca.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut he's immersing himself, creating the density of felt detail from which fine performances emerge.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
From these three performances the committee hoped to gain at least a thousand dollars, and possibly half as much more.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. MorrisonCharles Frederick Abel died; an eminent musician, whose performances attracted much attention in Europe.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellHe wrote also for the stage with some success, although his performances were ridiculed by Pope.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellI am sure it will not survive half a dozen performances, which is mortally vexatious.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste TchaikovskyFrom all sides one hears complaints of hunger and thirst, mingled with comments on present or past performances.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
British Dictionary definitions for performance
/ (pəˈfɔːməns) /
the act, process, or art of performing
an artistic or dramatic production: last night's performance was terrible
manner or quality of functioning: a machine's performance
informal mode of conduct or behaviour, esp when distasteful or irregular: what did you mean by that performance at the restaurant?
informal any tiresome procedure: what a performance dressing the children to play in the snow!
any accomplishment
linguistics (in transformational grammar) the form of the human language faculty, viewed as concretely embodied in speakers: Compare competence (def. 5), langue, parole (def. 5)
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
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