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perform

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verb British English pronunciation: perform /pə(r)ˈfɔː(r)m/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyperform
he/she/itperforms
present participleperforming
past tenseperformed
past participleperformed
Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

  1. 1
    [transitive] to complete an action or activity, especially a complicated one
    perform a task/duty/service:

    Machines are capable of performing many routine tasks.

    perform an experiment/check/test:

    Two experiments were performed to test this hypothesis.

    perform a ceremony/rite/ritual:

    The Queen will perform the opening ceremony on Saturday.

    perform miracles (=do things that seem almost impossible):

    an interior designer who can perform miracles with your home

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of perform
    1. a.
      [intransitive] to have a particular job or purpose
      perform a function/role:

      The front teeth perform a cutting function.

      Often a grandparent could perform the role of main carer.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of perform
  2. 2
    [intransitive/transitive] to do something in front of an audience in order to entertain them, for example by acting in a play or singing

    Akram went on to perform on stage in England and India.

    The opera was first performed in 1992.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of perform
  3. 3
    [intransitive] to do something with a particular amount of success

    Stress at home affects how you perform at work.

    perform well/poorly/satisfactorily:

    The tyres perform well in wet or snowy conditions.

    The party had performed poorly in the elections.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of perform

This is the British English definition of perform. View American English definition of perform.

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