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