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Definition of perform verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

perform

verb
 
/pəˈfɔːm/
 
/pərˈfɔːrm/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they perform
 
/pəˈfɔːm/
 
/pərˈfɔːrm/
he / she / it performs
 
/pəˈfɔːmz/
 
/pərˈfɔːrmz/
past simple performed
 
/pəˈfɔːmd/
 
/pərˈfɔːrmd/
past participle performed
 
/pəˈfɔːmd/
 
/pərˈfɔːrmd/
-ing form performing
 
/pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/
 
/pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
Idioms
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] perform (something) to entertain an audience by playing a piece of music, acting in a play, etc.
    • to perform a song/dance/play
    • The play was first performed in 2007.
    • Visiting artists will perform their music and poetry.
    • I'm looking forward to seeing you perform.
    • I'd love to see them perform live (= in a live show, not a recording).
    • What do you like about performing on stage?
    Extra Examples
    • I've never seen this play performed before.
    • The group will be performing live on tonight's show.
    • The play was first publicly performed in 1872.
    • The two artists have never performed together before.
    • He performed a few magic tricks at the party.
    • to perform somersaults/​magic tricks
    • I'd like to hear it performed live.
    Topics Film and theatrea2, Musica2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • live
    • in public
    • publicly
    phrases
    • first performed
    • rarely performed
    • see something performed
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] perform something to do something, such as a piece of work, task or duty synonym carry out
    • She performs an important role in our organization.
    • A computer can perform many tasks at once.
    • to perform a function/duty
    • to perform an analysis/a test/an experiment
    • to perform a ceremony/ritual
    • (medical) to perform an operation/a procedure/surgery
    • The procedure was performed safely on ten patients.
    Extra Examples
    • The prince is no longer able to perform his duties.
    • Who ensures that tasks are properly performed?
    • those who faithfully perform their duties
    • This operation has never been performed in this country.
    • All subjects performed the experiment twice.
    • All analyses were performed on the entire sample.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • effectively
    • efficiently
    • properly
    verb + perform
    • be able to
    • be unable to
    • be expected to
    phrases
    • failure to perform something
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive] to work or function well or badly
    • The engine seems to be performing well.
    • The company has been performing poorly over the past year.
    • England's players perform better for their clubs than for their country.
    • to perform admirably/brilliantly/strongly
    • She performed less well in the second test.
    • They gather information on how businesses are performing.
    • If James performs (= performs well) then I believe Wales can win.
    Extra Examples
    • One or two of the players performed brilliantly.
    • The car performed poorly at high speeds.
    • The company has been performing strongly over the past year.
    • students who are expected to perform well
    • Once your body demonstrates its ability to perform, you will feel more confident.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • admirably
    • beautifully
    • brilliantly
    verb + perform
    • be able to
    • be unable to
    • be expected to
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French parfourmer, alteration (by association with forme ‘form’) of Old French parfournir, from par ‘through, to completion’ + fournir ‘furnish, provide’.
Idioms
work/perform miracles
  1. to achieve very good results
    • Her exercise programme has worked miracles for her.
    • You can work miracles with very little money if you follow our home decoration tips.
    • He performed miracles to get everything ready in time.
    Extra Examples
    • Don't expect this medicine to work miracles.
    • You shouldn't expect the treatment to work miracles.
    Topics Successc2
See perform in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee perform in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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