to carry out or do (an action) - (transitive)
to fulfil or comply with: to perform someone's request to present or enact (a play, concert, etc) before or otherwise entertain an audience: the group performed Hamlet
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
per•form /pɚˈfɔrm/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to carry out;
execute;
do:[~ + object]to perform surgery. - to carry out in the proper manner:[~ + object]The minister performed the marriage ceremony.
- to carry into effect;
fulfill:[~ + object]to perform a contract. - Show Businessto act (a play, etc.), as on the stage;
to play or sing a piece of music: [~ + object]:That actor performed the part of Othello.[no object]For an amateur, she performed very well. - to accomplish (an action involving skill or ability): [~ + object]to perform a juggling act.[
no object] This car performs poorly when the weather is hot.
per•form
(pər fôrm′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
per•form′a•ble, adj.
per•form′er, n.
- 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. - Show Businessto act (a play, part, etc.), as on the stage, in movies, or on television.
- Show Business, Music and Danceto 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.
v.i.
- to fulfill a command, promise, or undertaking.
- to execute or do something.
- Show Businessto act in a play:to perform in the role of Romeo.
- Music and Danceto perform music.
- Show Businessto go through any performance.
- Business(of loans, investments, etc.) to yield a profit;
earn income.
- Anglo-French parformer, alteration (by association with forme form) of Middle French, Old French parfournir to accomplish. See per-, furnish
- Middle English parformen 1250–1300
per•form′er, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged 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.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged accomplish, achieve, effect.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'perform surgery' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):