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 mode of conduct or behaviour, esp when distasteful or irregular: what did you mean by that performance at the restaurant? any tiresome procedure: what a performance dressing the children to play in the snow! (in transformational grammar) the form of the human language faculty, viewed as concretely embodied in speakers
Compare langue,parole 5
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
per•for•mance /pɚˈfɔrməns/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Music and Dance, Show Business an entertainment presented before an audience:[countable]two performances on Saturday.
- Music and Dance, Show Business the act of performing a ceremony, play, etc.:[uncountable]The audience loved her performance.
- the doing or accomplishment of work, acts, etc.:[uncountable]the performance of his duties.
- an action or event of an unusual kind:[countable]a fabulous pitching performance.
- [uncountable]
- the capacity to perform;
effectiveness:good performance under pressure. - the manner in which something fulfills its purpose:poor engine performance in hot weather.
- the capacity to perform;
per•for•mance
(pər fôr′məns),USA pronunciation n.
- Music and Dance, Show Businessa musical, dramatic, or other entertainment presented before an audience.
- Music and Dance, Show Businessthe 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.
- Linguisticsthe 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.
- perform + -ance 1485–95
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