performance

Definition

  • noun: an activity (such as singing a song or acting in a play) that a person or group does to entertain an audience
  • noun: the execution of an action
  • sometimes used figuratively
  • synonyms: work, deed, accomplishment

Examples

  • Event planners hope to avoid a 'repeat performance' of last year's problems. [=hope that last year's problems will not happen again this year]

  • a bicyclist who was disqualified for taking 'performance'-enhancing drugs [=drugs that improve your ability to do something]

  • How has the company's stock 'performance' been? [=has the value of the company's stock been increasing/decreasing?]

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) keep myself stinking drunk, and no one will be able to tell the difference. Have a little faith, sir. Now, would you favor us with a performance, Mr. Root? You'd drink, too, if you knew the world half as well as I do. Did you think you were unique? I've been Caesar, I've played Faust. (..)
    2006 The Prestige
  • (..) so can the blokes at the ends of rows three and four! You're wrong. It can't be. - Look at the man. - This is the trick. This is the performance. Right here. This is why no one can detect his method. Total devotion to his art. A lot of self-sacrifice. You know. (..)
    2006 The Prestige