per ‧ form S3 W2 /pəˈfɔːm $ pərˈfɔːrm/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ performance , ↑ performer ; verb : ↑ perform ; adjective : performing]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: performer , from Old French perfournir , from fournir 'to complete' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to do something to entertain people, for example by acting a play or playing a piece of music:
Chenier and the band are performing at the Silver Palace tomorrow.
The children perform two plays each school year.
► Do not use perform to say what person an actor pretends to be in a play, film etc. Use play : John Wayne played (NOT performed) a Roman soldier in the film.
2 . [transitive] to do something, especially something difficult or useful SYN carry out :
Surgeons performed an emergency operation.
The official opening ceremony was performed by Princess Margaret.
perform a study/experiment/analysis etc
An analysis of the survey data was performed.
perform a task/job/duty
She was fired for not performing the duties outlined in her contract.
perform a function/role
software that performs a specific function
The leadership cannot be expected to perform miracles (=improve a situation in a way that seems impossible) .
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In everyday English, people usually say that someone carries out an operation, a study etc rather than use perform :
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The operation was carried out by a team of surgeons.
3 . perform well/badly etc
a) to work or do something well, badly etc ⇨ underperform :
Many religious schools perform well academically.
The team performed poorly on Saturday.
b) if a product, business etc performs well or badly, it makes a lot of money or very little money:
The economy is performing well.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ perform a task/job/duty etc
What skills do you need to perform this task?
▪ perform work
Over 6,000 people in our community of 100,000 perform volunteer work.
▪ perform an experiment/study etc
Part of the Chemistry exam involves performing an experiment.
▪ perform an operation
The surgeon who performed the operation said it had gone well.
▪ perform a ceremony
At 3 o'clock, the opening ceremony was performed by the Queen.
▪ perform a service
Our troops are performing a remarkable service and a terribly important mission.
▪ perform a function/role
The two organizations perform similar functions.
▪ perform an action
The children sing and perform the actions to nursery songs.
▪ perform miracles (=do things that seem impossible)
I'm prepared to work hard to get the job done but I can't perform miracles.
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THESAURUS
▪ do to do something – used in the following phrases: do your work/homework etc :
It usually takes me a couple of hours to do my homework.
| do the shopping/cooking/washing etc :
She’s gone to the supermarket to do the shopping.
| do a test/experiment/some research :
The doctor did some tests.
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Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research.
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Scientists are doing research on two types of vaccine.
| do a course :
Have you decided which course you want to do at university?
▪ make to do something – used in the following phrases: make a speech :
The Prince made a short speech.
| make a comment/suggestion/joke :
Can I make a suggestion?
| make a decision :
The committee will meet to make their final decision.
| make a mistake :
I think someone has made a mistake.
▪ give to do something – used in the following phrases: give a talk/speech/lecture :
They’ve asked him to give a talk.
| give a performance :
The band gave a brilliant performance.
▪ take to do something – used in the following phrases: take a test/exam :
Kate’s taking her driving test tomorrow.
| take a bath/shower :
I think I’ll go and take a shower.
| take a walk :
Normally, he took a walk in the evenings.
▪ commit to do something that is a crime, especially a serious crime: commit a crime :
The crime was committed in the early hours of the morning.
| commit a robbery/murder etc :
Dixon later admitted committing the robbery.
▪ carry out something to do something – used in the following phrases: carry out your work :
The violence is making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their work.
| carry out a task/duty :
He still managed to carry out his duties.
| carry out a survey/test/some research :
The hospital carries out research into skin diseases.
| carry out an operation :
The operation was carried out at a hospital in Paris.
| carry out a threat/promise :
They didn’t carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
| carry out sb’s orders/instructions/wishes :
I’m sure I can rely on you to carry out my instructions.
▪ perform to do something. Perform is more formal than carry out , and is used in the following phrases: perform a task/duty :
The job mostly involves performing administrative tasks.
| perform an operation :
A team of surgeons performed the operation.
▪ conduct to do something – used in the following phrases: conduct a survey/study/experiment :
They conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 people living in the area.
| conduct an inquiry/investigation :
The police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
| conduct an interview :
Knowing how to conduct a successful interview is a skill.
| conduct a campaign :
People were unimpressed by the way in which the election campaign was conducted.
▪ go about something to do your work or the things that you usually do, especially when something serious has happened: go about your work/business :
The next day she went about her business as if nothing had happened.
▪ get on with something spoken especially British English to start doing something that you should have started already or to continue doing something that you stopped doing for a short time:
I need to get on with my homework.
▪ be up to something spoken to be doing something that you think is probably bad, although you do not know exactly what it is:
I’m sure they’re up to something.
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What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.