Standard Lemma guide

performance

noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • pər-fôrʹ-məns
  • Received-Pronunciation: [pəˈfɔː.məns]
  • Canada, General-American: [pɚˈfoɹ.məns]
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian, New-Zealand: [pəˈfoː.məns]
  • CMU ARPABET: P ER0 F AO1 R M AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • the performance of an undertaking or a duty
  • Though the result wasn't what we were hoping for, I have to commend the performance of the team, never giving up until the end.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A live show or concert.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: art, arts

Examples

  • The band played a mix of old and new songs during their 90-minute performance.
  • We saw the whole ballet performance from the front row.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The amount of useful work accomplished estimated in terms of time needed, resources used, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Better performance means more work accomplished in shorter time and/or using fewer resources.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The actual use of language in concrete situations by native speakers of a language, as opposed to the system of linguistic knowledge they possess (competence), cf. linguistic performance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

any recognized accomplishment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they admired his performance under stress
  • when Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accomplishment, achievement

Narrower terms: overachievement, underachievement

7

noun

Meaning 7

the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they criticised his performance as mayor
  • experience generally improves performance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: execution, carrying out, carrying into action

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: action

Narrower terms: specific performance, linguistic performance, mechanism, mechanics, officiation

8

noun

Meaning 8

the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal
  • an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: presentation, presentment, demonstration

Narrower terms: dramatic production, dramatic performance, encore, extemporization, extemporisation, improvisation, juggle, juggling, magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, conjuration, thaumaturgy, illusion, deception, musical performance, one-night stand, rendition, rendering, interpretation, swan song, last hurrah, program, programme

9

noun

Meaning 9

a dramatic or musical entertainment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they listened to ten different performances
  • the play ran for 100 performances
  • the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: public presentation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: show

Narrower terms: act, routine, number, turn, bit, benefit, concert, pianism, play reading, premiere, recital, rendition, rendering, song and dance, theatrical performance, theatrical, representation, histrionics, spectacular, world premiere

10

noun

Meaning 10

process or manner of functioning or operating

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the power of its engine determines its operation
  • the plane's operation in high winds
  • they compared the cooking performance of each oven
  • the jet's performance conformed to high standards

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: operation, functioning

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: process, physical process

History

Etymology

From Middle English parfourmaunce; equivalent to perform + -ance.

Across languages

Translations

196 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: performancë — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Arabic: أَدَاء (ʔadāʔ) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Belarusian: выкана́нне (vykanánnje) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Belarusian: выпаўне́нне (vypawnjénnje) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Bulgarian: изпълне́ние (izpǎlnénie) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Bulgarian: извъ́ршване (izvǎ́ršvane) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Catalan: actuació — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Catalan: execució — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Czech: výkon — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Czech: provedení — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Czech: vykonání — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Dutch: uitvoering — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Esperanto: prezentado — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Finnish: suoritus — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • French: exécution — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • French: performance — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Georgian: შესრულება (šesruleba) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Georgian: სისრულეში მოყვანა (sisruleši moq̇vana) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Georgian: განხორციელება (ganxorcieleba) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Georgian: მოქმედება (mokmedeba) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Georgian: აღსრულება (aɣsruleba) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • German: Durchführung — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • German: Leistung — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Greek: εκτέλεση (ektélesi) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Greek: εκπλήρωση (ekplírosi) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Greek: επίδοση (epídosi) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Hindi: निष्पादन (niṣpādan) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Hungarian: teljesítés — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Hungarian: elvégzés — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Hungarian: véghez vitel — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Italian: esecuzione — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Italian: prestazione — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Latin: functiō — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Latin: exsecūtiō — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Macedonian: учинок (učinok) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Polish: wykonanie — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Portuguese: desempenho — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Romanian: performanță — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Romanian: randament — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Romanian: îndeplinire — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Romanian: desăvârșire — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Russian: выполне́ние (vypolnénije) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Russian: исполне́ние (ispolnénije) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: actuación — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: cumplimiento — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: ejecución — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: desempeño — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: efectuación — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Spanish: realización — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Swedish: utförande — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Swedish: verkställande — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Turkish: performans — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Ukrainian: викона́ння (vykonánnja) — the act of performing; carrying into execution or action; accomplishment
  • Bulgarian: де́йствие (déjstvie) — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Bulgarian: постъ́пка (postǎ́pka) — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Catalan: realització — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Catalan: execució — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Czech: výkon — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Finnish: suoritus — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Finnish: saavutus — that which is performed or accomplished
  • French: exécution — that which is performed or accomplished
  • French: performance — that which is performed or accomplished
  • German: Leistung — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Greek: απόδοση (apódosi) — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Hungarian: teljesítmény — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Hungarian: nagy dolog — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Indonesian: kinerja — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Indonesian: performa — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Indonesian: unjuk kerja — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Italian: prestazione — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Italian: rendimento — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Malay: persembahan — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Norwegian: utførelse, prestasjon, innsats — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Portuguese: desempenho — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Romanian: realizare — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Romanian: realizări — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Romanian: performanță — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Romanian: prestație — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Russian: де́йствие (déjstvije) — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Russian: посту́пок (postúpok) — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: realización — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: ejecución — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: rendimiento — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: desempeño — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: efectuación — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Spanish: rendición — that which is performed or accomplished
  • Albanian: performancë — live show or concert
  • Arabic: مَسْرَحِيَّة (masraḥiyya) — live show or concert
  • Armenian: ներկայացում (nerkayacʻum) — live show or concert
  • Belarusian: прадстаўле́нне (pradstawljénnje) — live show or concert
  • Belarusian: выступле́нне (vystupljénnje) — live show or concert
  • Belarusian: спекта́кль (spjektáklʹ) — live show or concert
  • Belarusian: спэкта́кль (spektáklʹ) — live show or concert
  • Bulgarian: представле́ние (predstavlénie) — live show or concert
  • Bulgarian: спекта́къл (spektákǎl) — live show or concert
  • Catalan: representació — live show or concert
  • Catalan: actuació — live show or concert
  • Catalan: espectacle — live show or concert
  • Chinese Mandarin: 表演 (biǎoyǎn) — live show or concert
  • Czech: představení — live show or concert
  • Czech: vystoupení — live show or concert
  • Dutch: opvoering — live show or concert
  • Esperanto: prezentado — live show or concert
  • Estonian: etendus — live show or concert
  • Finnish: esitys — live show or concert
  • Finnish: esiintyminen — live show or concert
  • Finnish: näytäntö — live show or concert
  • Finnish: näytös — live show or concert
  • French: représentation — live show or concert
  • French: prestation — live show or concert
  • Georgian: შესრულება (šesruleba) — live show or concert
  • Georgian: წარმოდგენა (c̣armodgena) — live show or concert
  • Georgian: პერფორმანსი (ṗerpormansi) — live show or concert
  • German: Aufführung — live show or concert
  • German: Auftritt — live show or concert
  • German: Performance — live show or concert
  • Greek: παράσταση (parástasi) — live show or concert
  • Ancient Greek: θέα (théa) — live show or concert
  • Hebrew: הַצָּגָה (hatsagá) — live show or concert
  • Hungarian: előadás — live show or concert
  • Indonesian: persembahan — live show or concert
  • Indonesian: penampilan — live show or concert
  • Italian: prestazione — live show or concert
  • Italian: esibizione — live show or concert
  • Japanese: 演奏 (ensō) — live show or concert
  • Japanese: 公演 (kōen) — live show or concert
  • Korean: 공연 (gong'yeon) — live show or concert
  • Korean: 연주 (yeonju) — live show or concert
  • Macedonian: изведба (izvedba) — live show or concert
  • Macedonian: претстава (pretstava) — live show or concert
  • Macedonian: настап (nastap) — live show or concert
  • Malay: persembahan — live show or concert
  • Norwegian: forestilling — live show or concert
  • Norwegian: opptreden — live show or concert
  • Norwegian: fremføring — live show or concert
  • Iranian Persian: نَمایِش (namâyeš) — live show or concert
  • Iranian Persian: اِجْرا (ejrâ) — live show or concert
  • Iranian Persian: تَماشا (tamâšâ) — live show or concert
  • Polish: występ — live show or concert
  • Polish: przedstawienie — live show or concert
  • Portuguese: apresentação — live show or concert
  • Russian: выступле́ние (vystuplénije) — live show or concert
  • Russian: представле́ние (predstavlénije) — live show or concert
  • Russian: перфо́рманс (perfórmans) — live show or concert
  • Russian: спекта́кль (spektáklʹ) — live show or concert
  • Serbo-Croatian: на́ступ — live show or concert
  • Serbo-Croatian: nástup — live show or concert
  • Slovak: predstavenie — live show or concert
  • Spanish: actuación — live show or concert
  • Spanish: número — live show or concert
  • Spanish: espectáculo — live show or concert
  • Spanish: representación — live show or concert
  • Spanish: exhibición — live show or concert
  • Spanish: performance — live show or concert
  • Spanish: performance — live show or concert
  • Swedish: uppträdande — live show or concert
  • Swedish: föreställning — live show or concert
  • Swedish: framträdande — live show or concert
  • Turkish: performans — live show or concert
  • Ottoman Turkish: اویون (oyun) — live show or concert
  • Ukrainian: ви́ступ (výstup) — live show or concert
  • Ukrainian: виста́ва (vystáva) — live show or concert
  • Ukrainian: спекта́кль (spektáklʹ) — live show or concert
  • Belarusian: прадукцы́йнасць (pradukcýjnascʹ) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Bulgarian: производи́телност (proizvodítelnost) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Catalan: rendiment — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Czech: výkonnost — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Czech: výkon — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Finnish: suorituskyky — amount of useful work accomplished
  • French: performance — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Georgian: მწარმოებლურობა (mc̣armoebluroba) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Georgian: ქმედუნარიანობა (kmedunarianoba) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Georgian: მუშაობა (mušaoba) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Georgian: შესრულება (šesruleba) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Georgian: წარმადობა (c̣armadoba) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • German: Leistung — amount of useful work accomplished
  • German: Arbeitsleistung — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Greek: επίδοση (epídosi) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Hungarian: teljesítmény — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Macedonian: перформанса (performansa) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Norwegian: ytelse — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Polish: produktywność — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Portuguese: desempenho — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Portuguese: performance — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Russian: производи́тельность (proizvodítelʹnostʹ) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Russian: продукти́вность (produktívnostʹ) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Serbo-Croatian: перформа̀нса — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Serbo-Croatian: performànsa — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Spanish: rendimiento — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Spanish: desempeño — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Spanish: performance — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Spanish: performance — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Swedish: prestanda — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Ukrainian: викона́ння (vykonánnja) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Ukrainian: швидкоді́я (švydkodíja) — amount of useful work accomplished
  • Ukrainian: продукти́вність (produktývnistʹ) — amount of useful work accomplished
Real reading context

performance in complete knowledge articles