perform

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɚˈfɔɹm/ UK /pəˈfɔːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #2713

Meanings

1

verb
To do or carry out a task or action.

The doctors performed a difficult operation.
2

verb
To act, sing, or play music in front of an audience.

The band will perform at the festival next week.
3

verb
To work or function in a particular way.

The new employee performs very well under pressure.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms performedperformingperformsunperformed

Derived forms coperformmisperformnonperformingoutperformoverperformperformabilityperformableperformance performantperformationperformativeperformativity

Related forms preformpreformance

Etymology

From Middle English parformen, performen (“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Frankish *frummjan (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną (“to further, promote”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth”), *per- (“forward, out”). Cognate with Old High German frummen (“to do, execute, accomplish, provide”), Old Saxon frummian (“to perform, promote”), Old English fremman (“to perform, execute, ca…

parformen Middle English performer xno parfornir Old French *frummjan frk *frumjaną Proto-Germanic *promo- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

External links

# perform

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /pɚˈfɔɹm/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈfɔːm/
**Frequency rank:** 2713

## Meanings
1. To do or carry out a task or action.
2. To act, sing, or play music in front of an audience.
3. To work or function in a particular way.

## Examples
- The doctors performed a difficult operation.
- The band will perform at the festival next week.
- The new employee performs very well under pressure.

## Derived Forms
- coperform
- misperform
- nonperforming
- outperform
- overperform
- performability
- performable
- performance
- performant
- performation
- performative
- performativity

## Related Forms
- preform
- preformance

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: parformen
- Root: performer
- Root: parfornir
- Root: *frummjan
- Root: *frumjaną
- Root: *promo-

## Etymology
From Middle English parformen, performen (“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Frankish *frummjan (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną (“to further, promote”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth”), *per- (“forward, out”). Cognate with Old High German frummen (“to do, execute, accomplish, provide”), Old Saxon frummian (“to perform, promote”), Old English fremman (“to perform, execute, ca…

## AI Etymology
Perform comes from Middle English parformen, performen (“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Frankish *frummjan (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną (“to further, promote”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth”), *per- (“forward, out”). The historical chain includes parformen (Middle English), performer (xno), parfornir (Old French), *frummjan (frk), *frumjaną (Proto-Germanic), *promo- (Proto-Indo-European). In present-day English it covers to do or carry out a task or action, to act, sing, or play music in front of an audience, and to work or function in a particular way. The wider family includes derived forms such as coperform, misperform, nonperforming, outperform, overperform and related forms such as preform, preformance.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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perform

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