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performing arts

American  

plural noun

  1. arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing.


performing arts British  

plural noun

  1. the arts that are primarily performed before an audience, such as dance and drama

"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

Etymology

Origin of performing arts

First recorded in 1945–50

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:

According to documents obtained by the paper, the center's board of trustees is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to close the main building of Washington's performing arts center, due to financial and safety needs.

From Barron's Sep. 14, 2026

“The time that it takes to fully activate a performing arts center the size of the Vision has to occur in phases,” Wafer said.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 24, 2026

Kae, who wants to be an actor and is studying performing arts at Coleg Gwent, is urging other young people to check what they may be owed.

From BBC Aug. 6, 2026

That skill is cultivated through education in the performing arts.

From Salon Jul. 30, 2026

On the first day we talked, he had just returned home from six weeks at a summer performing arts camp in upstate Pennsylvania.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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