perform

perform

per‧form S3 W2 /pəˈfɔːm $ pərˈfɔːrm/ 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).
  REGISTER
   In everyday English, people usually say that someone carries out an operation, a study etc rather than use perform:
   ▪ • 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.
     • • •

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.
     • • •

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. | • Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research. | • 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. | • What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.