A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing, dancing, or acting.
Inside the theatre, they were giving a performance of Bizet's Carmen. [+ of]
...her performance as the betrayed Medea. [+ as]
The Festival Of Arts & Music will include two days of live performances.
Synonyms: presentation, playing, acting (out), staging More Synonyms of performance
2. variable noun [oft with poss]
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
That study looked at the performance of 18 surgeons. [+ of]
The poor performance has been blamed on the recession and cheaper sports car imports.
The job of the new director-general was to ensure that performance targets were met.
Synonyms: work, acts, conduct, exploits More Synonyms of performance
3. uncountable noun
A car's performance is its ability to go fast and to increase its speed quickly.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A performance car is one that can go very fast and can increase its speed very quickly.
5. See also high-performance
6. singular noun
Theperformanceof a task is the fact or action of doing it.
He devoted in excess of seventy hours a week to the performance of his duties. [+ of]
The people believe that the performance of this ritual is the will of the Great Spirit.
7. singular noun
You can describe something that is or looks complicated or difficult to do as a performance.
[informal]
The whole process is quite a performance.
She made a big performance of sprinkling all the spices on.
Synonyms: carry-on [informal, mainly British], business, to-do, act More Synonyms of performance
8. a repeat performance
More Synonyms of performance
performance in British English
(pəˈfɔːməns)
noun
1.
the act, process, or art of performing
2.
an artistic or dramatic production
last night's performance was terrible
3.
manner or quality of functioning
a machine's performance
4. informal
mode of conduct or behaviour, esp when distasteful or irregular
what did you mean by that performance at the restaurant?
5. informal
any tiresome procedure
what a performance dressing the children to play in the snow!
6.
any accomplishment
7. linguistics
(in transformational grammar) the form of the human language faculty, viewed as concretely embodied in speakers
Compare competence (sense 5), langue, parole (sense 5)
performance in American English
(pərˈfɔrməns)
noun
1.
the act of performing; execution, accomplishment, fulfillment, etc.
2.
operation or functioning, usually with regard to effectiveness, as of a machine
3.
something done or performed; deed or feat
4.
a.
a formal exhibition or presentation before an audience, as a play, musical program, etc.; show
b.
one's part in this
Word origin
LME parfourmaunce < MFr
performance in Automotive Engineering
(pərfɔrməns)
noun
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
A vehicle's performance is how well it operates.
Advances have been made to improve the braking performance of commercial vehicles.
The vehicle had more power and better performance than any other car he had driven before.
On the road, the car's handling and performance is outstanding.
UsageRemember that this meaning of performance is uncountable. You cannot put a in front of it and you cannot make it plural.
COBUILD Collocations
performance
a performance worthy of
acceptable performance
affect performance
all-round performance
astonishing performance
away performance
boost performance
capped a performance
compare performance
compelling performance
concert performance
dismal performance
dominant performance
economic performance
enhance performance
excellent performance
fantastic performance
give performances
good performance
improve performance
individual performance
job performance
lacklustre performance
live performance
measure performance
monitor performance
musical performance
overall performance
poor performance
produce a performance
sales performance
stage performance
stellar performance
superior performance
team performance
unacceptable performance
underlying performance
virtuoso performance
vocal performance
Examples of 'performance' in a sentence
performance
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
It was a poor performance and there was the civil war afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You have to base it on how we play and the performances we put in.
The Sun (2016)
In the first half it was a very good performance from the team.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The enthusiasm for live performances goes against trends for the genre.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
His standout performances were one of the bright points of a depressing summer.
The Sun (2016)
If they cannot produce consistently high performances he is not managing them correctly.
The Sun (2016)
In roles that could be ripe for melodrama, they deliver performances of great dignity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Out of two good performances we get zero points and out of two leading positions, we lose two games.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That it has had no measurable effect on school performance, job prospects, criminality or welfare dependency.
The Sun (2016)
The pound enjoyed one of its best performances in weeks yesterday, jumping 1.3 per cent against the dollar.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The last performances this week are not to be missed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is the inner secret of magic as a performance art.
John Fisher Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing (2006)
Yet perhaps it is unfair to single out one performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We hope this performance gives us something to build on heading into next season.
The Sun (2015)
It will be a recording of a performance made two days previously.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This could be a drawback if his performance fails to live up to expectations.
The Sun (2010)
We have had poor performances throughout the season but we have always bounced back.
The Sun (2012)
The fund has produced good performance with comparatively low volatility.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Theatre performances outside theatres can be confusing and sometimes embarrassing.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His performance will act as a reality check.
The Sun (2009)
The notices are quite a performance to produce.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why are interviews so poor at predicting job performance?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Otherwise the team produced a performance that was hugely disappointing.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The strong bass performance makes these headphones ideally suited to rock or dance.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There have been some other great performances.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The effect of noise on task performance is variable.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
His last stage performance was without a frock.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We need to get a lot more performance from the car.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Older fans in the audience loved the performance.
The Sun (2010)
Yet another burden to ensure mediocre performance for the industries we all own in common.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
Big players on big nights producing big performances.
The Sun (2006)
It was an energetic performance by the whole team.
The Sun (2012)
Great performance from the team today.
The Sun (2013)
In the interim, all publicly funded sports will conduct performance reviews and draw up business plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
That said, the performance and the behaviour were real enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
The only true performance is the one which attains madnessMick Jagger
In other languages
performance
British English: performance /pəˈfɔːməns/ NOUN
A performance involves entertaining an audience by singing, dancing, or acting.
...a performance of Bizet's Carmen.
American English: performance
Arabic: أدَاءٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: espetáculo
Chinese: 表演
Croatian: izvedba
Czech: představení kulturní
Danish: optræden
Dutch: voorstelling
European Spanish: actuación acción
Finnish: suoritus
French: performance
German: Durchführung
Greek: εκπλήρωση
Italian: prestazione
Japanese: 実行
Korean: 수행
Norwegian: gjennomføring
Polish: wyniki
European Portuguese: desempenho
Romanian: spectacol
Russian: представление эстрадное
Latin American Spanish: actuación
Swedish: uppträdande
Thai: การแสดง
Turkish: performans
Ukrainian: виступ
Vietnamese: tiết mục biểu diễn
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'performance'
job performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
performance art
Performance art is a theatrical presentation that includes various art forms such as dance, music, painting , and sculpture.
performance car
a car that can go very fast and can increase its speed very quickly
affect performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
away performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
boost performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
dismal performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
first performance
the first time that a play or concert is performed
good performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
high-performance
A high-performance car or other product goes very fast or does a lot .
live performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
performance artist
an artist that is involved in a theatrical presentation that incorporates various art forms, such as dance, sculpture , music, etc
performance bond
a bond given by a bank to a third party guaranteeing that if a specified customer fails to fulfil all the terms of a specified contract , the bank will be responsible for any loss sustained by the third party
performance bonus
a monetary bonus paid to staff who have performed well in their job
performance drugs
the drugs that are taken illegally by athletes to enhance their sporting performance
performance review
A review of a situation or system is its formal examination by people in authority. This is usually done in order to see whether it can be improved or corrected .
performance test
a test designed to assess a person's manual ability
poor performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
repeat performance
if there is a repeat performance of something, usually something undesirable , it happens again
sales performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
stage performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
team performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
vocal performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing, dancing, or acting.
acceptable performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
afternoon performance
a performance during the afternoon , rather than the evening
benefit performance
a theatrical or musical performance in aid of charity
command performance
A command performance is a special performance of a play or show which is given for a head of state.
compare performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
compelling performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
concert performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
dominant performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
economic performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
enhance performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
excellent performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
fantastic performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
improve performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
individual performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
lacklustre performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
measure performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
monitor performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
musical performance
A performance involves entertaining an audience by doing something such as singing , dancing, or acting.
overall performance
Someone's or something's performance is how successful they are or how well they do something.
performance anxiety
the stage fright that a person feels when they are about to perform (a play, piece of music etc) in front of an audience
performance appraisal
the assessment , at regular intervals , of an employee's performance at work
performance assessment
An assessment is a consideration of someone or something and a judgment about them.
performance figures
the statistics that indicate how well or badly a company or organization has performed
performance indicator
a quantitative or qualitative measurement, or any other criterion , by which the performance, efficiency , achievement , etc of a person or organization can be assessed , often by comparison with an agreed standard or target
performance ratings
A rating of something is a score or measurement of how good or popular it is.
performance targets
the expected or predicted success level of an individual , company or organization
process performance
Process performance is a measure of how efficient or effective a process is.