performance - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

Performance has to do with doing something: a concert or play is a performance, and if you want to talk about how well the actors did, you'd rate their performance.

The main sense of performance is artsy: actors and musicians (and other performers) give performances. You could praise an actor's performance in a movie, but this word extends to other kinds of work and accomplishments as well. If you're failing math, your performance is below par. An athlete can get in trouble for taking performance-enhancing drugs: drugs that make their performance better. Anytime you're talking about how something or someone works — or performs — you're talking about performance.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: performance

1	n	the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it
2	n	process or manner of functioning or operating
3	n	any recognized accomplishment

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: performance

1

n the act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it

“they criticised his performance as mayor”

“experience generally improves performance”

Synonyms:: carrying into action, carrying out, execution

Types:: show 4 types...; hide 4 types...; specific performance
the performance of a legal contract as specified by its terms; linguistic performance
(linguistics) a speaker's actual use of language in real situations; what the speaker actually says, including grammatical errors and other non-linguistic features such as hesitations and other disfluencies (contrasted with linguistic competence); mechanics, mechanism
the technical aspects of doing something; officiation
the performance of a religious or ceremonial or public duty

Type of:: action
something done (usually as opposed to something said)

n the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment

“we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal”

“an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto”

Types:: show 18 types...; hide 18 types...; dramatic performance, dramatic production
the act of performing a drama; encore
an extra or repeated performance; usually given in response to audience demand; extemporisation, extemporization, improvisation
a performance given extempore without planning or preparation; juggle, juggling
throwing and catching several objects simultaneously; conjuration, conjuring trick, deception, illusion, legerdemain, magic, magic trick, thaumaturgy, trick
an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers; musical performance
the act of performing music; one-night stand
a performance in one place on one night only; interpretation, rendering, rendition
the act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performance; last hurrah, swan song
a final performance or effort (especially before retirement); program, programme
a performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation; reinterpretation
a new or different interpretation; spin
a distinctive interpretation (especially as used by politicians to sway public opinion); playing
the act of playing a musical instrument; jam session
an impromptu jazz concert; singing, vocalizing
the act of singing vocal music; bill
the entertainment offered at a public presentation; card trick
a trick performed with playing cards; prestidigitation, sleight of hand
manual dexterity in the execution of tricks

Type of:: demonstration, presentation, presentment
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view

n a dramatic or musical entertainment

“they listened to ten different performances”

“the play ran for 100 performances”

“the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity”

Synonyms:: public presentation

Types:: show 16 types...; hide 16 types...; act, bit, number, routine, turn
a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; benefit
a performance to raise money for a charitable cause; concert
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging; pianism
performance by or technique of a pianist; play reading
performance of a play by a group of readers; premiere
the first public performance of a play or movie; recital
performance of music or dance especially by soloists; rendering, rendition
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.; song and dance
theatrical performance combining singing and dancing; histrionics, representation, theatrical, theatrical performance
a performance of a play; spectacular
a lavishly produced performance; world premiere
(music) the first public performance (as of a dramatic or musical work) anywhere in the world; show-stopper, showstopper, stopper
an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down; benefit concert
a concert given for the benefit of some charitable cause; rock concert
a performance of rock music; matinee
a theatrical performance held during the daytime (especially in the afternoon)

Type of:: show
a social event involving a public performance or entertainment

2

n process or manner of functioning or operating

“they compared the cooking performance of each oven”

“the jet's performance conformed to high standards”

Synonyms:: functioning, operation

Type of:: physical process, process
a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states

3

n any recognized accomplishment

“they admired his performance under stress”

“when Roger Maris powered four home runs in one game his performance merits awe”

Types:: overachievement
better than expected performance (better than might have been predicted from intelligence tests); underachievement
poorer than expected performance (poorer than might have been predicted from intelligence tests)

Type of:: accomplishment, achievement
the action of accomplishing something