encore
Americaninterjection
noun
-
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)
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Theater - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
English Words Derived from French, List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 the encore, the band launch into a cover of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, external, prompting a massive outbreak of pogo-ing in the moshpit.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The “Wonderful Tonight” guitarist and singer was expected to return to the Movistar Arena stage for an encore but wrapped the set because of the incident.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026
His teammates were determined to give him an encore in the playoffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
The encore was pure joy, with the English-language bops Dynamite and Butter cosying up to the nostalgic pop of 2019's Mikrokosmos.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
Tanasia brings in a new song idea for the encore because Ren says that all bands should be prepared for an encore, even though we won’t have time for one.
From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon
Its episodic encores are currently airing on Fox as a lead-in to “The Faithful,” whose showrunner, René Echevarria, is an old hand at both network and cable, and whose work includes “The 4400.”
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2026
After all those years of effort - and infinite encores of Whatta Man - Anastacia finally got to make her debut album at the turn of the millennium.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025
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
Then there was this week’s ugliest of encores, a three-game Diamondbacks domination in which the Dodgers never led.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2023
He also organized a cadre of professional applauders, known as a “claque,” to provide enthusiastic ovations, demand encores, and cry “Brava!” for any performer willing to pay.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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
Krall encored with covers of The Band’s “Ophelia” and Bob Dylan’s “Wallflower,” before putting an old 78 on the gramophone to serenade her happy audience as they headed out of the hall.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2014
And, the following day, the papers, in their accounts of the performance, announce that Mademoiselle So-and-So was encored.
From English Pharisees and French Crocodiles and Other Anglo-French Typical Characters by O'Rell, Max
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
"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 Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)
We applaud lustily; we begin the encoring business here, which, having once started, we do not intend to give up again.
From Lazy Thoughts of a Lazy Girl Sister of that "Idle Fellow." by Wren, Jenny
But is it only men who are encoring so ecstatically?
From Doctor Cupid by Broughton, Rhoda
To think of passing over Charley’s recitation and encoring a silly old song like Lilac’s.
From White Lilac; or the Queen of the May by Walton, Amy
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.
