From Middle English performen, parfournen ("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, from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną ("to further, promote"), from Proto-Indo-European *promo-, *per- ("forward, out").

• (RP) IPA: /pəˈfɔːm/, [pʰəˈfɔːm], enPR: pər-fôrmʹ
• (America) IPA: /pɚˈfɔɹm/, enPR: pər-fôrmʹ

perform (performs, present participle performing; simple past and past participle performed)

1. (transitive) To do (something); to execute.

   The scientists performed several experiments.

   It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.

2. (intransitive) To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.

   The new employee performs well.

   1. (sexology, uncommon) Of a man, to be able to initiate or fulfill an act of sexual intercourse.
3. (law) To act in a way set forth in a contract.
   1. (transitive) To act in accordance with (a contract); to fulfill one’s terms of (a contract).

      Failure to perform a contract on time may constitute a breach of contract.

   2. (intransitive) To fulfill contractually agreed-to terms.

      They entered into an agreement and now they are obliged to perform.

4. (ambitransitive) To do (something) in front of an audience, such as acting or music, often in order to entertain.

   She will perform in the play.

   The magician performed badly—none of his tricks worked.

   The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.

   • c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:

     Perform a part thou hast not done before.

5. (by extension, transitive) To behave theatrically so as to give the impression of (a quality, character trait, etc.); to feign.

   The accused only performed remorse.

6. (social science) Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.
   1. (transitive) To behave in accordance with, and thereby in turn shape, (a social notion or role).

      perform masculinity

      perform authority

   2. (intransitive) To behave in ways that carry meaning in social contexts.

      Individuals in societies perform all the time.

• French: exécuter , effectuer , faire , accomplir
• German: durchführen , ausführen , verrichten, vollführen (body movement), vollbringen (miracle)
• Italian: eseguire
• Portuguese: realizar, fazer, levar a cabo
• Russian: выполня́ть
• Spanish: hacer, realizar, efectuar, ejecutar, llevar a cabo

• French: performer
• German: Arbeit leisten, Arbeit verrichten, performen (jargon), bringen (informal)
• Italian: comportarsi con correttezza

• German: erfüllen

• German: leisten
• Italian: adempiere

• French: jouer (actor), danser (dancer), chanter (singer), interpréter
• German: aufführen, spielen, auftreten
• Italian: recitare
• Portuguese: interpretar
• Russian: выступа́ть
• Spanish: actuar (actor), cantar (singer), danzar (dancer), ejecutar (musician), interpretar (musician)

• German: vorschützen, vorspielen, vortäuschen