perform

verb

Etymology: From Middle English parformen, performen (“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 (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną (“to further, promote”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth”), *per- (“forward, out”). Cognate with Old High German frummen (“to do, execute, accomplish, provide”), Old Saxon frummian (“to perform, promote”), Old English fremman (“to perform, execute, carry out, accomplish”). See also frame, from. Modernly, rather than Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, associated with Latin formō, analyzable as per- + form.

1. To do (something); to execute.

   “The scientists performed several experiments.”

   “It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.”

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

   “The new employee performs well.”

   “I could care less how she perform when she in the bed”

3. To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.
4. To act in a way set forth in a contract.

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

5. To act in a way set forth in a contract.

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

6. 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.”

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

   “The accused only performed remorse.”

   “As things now stand, Brexit is a pointless gesture, a politics of headlines in which sovereignty is performed by bleating world-beating absurdities.”

8. Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.

   “perform masculinity”

   “perform authority”

9. Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.

   “Individuals in societies perform all the time.”