# performing

/pɝˈfɔɹmɪŋ/ (US) · /pəfˈɔːmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/performing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the act of entertaining

noun · CEFR B1

the activity of acting, singing, or playing music for an audience.

For teachers: the execution of an artistic work before an audience; often used as a gerund to describe the profession or activity.

- She spent years studying performing before she finally got a role in a movie.
- The curriculum focuses heavily on performing, ensuring that students gain practical experience on stage alongside their theoretical studies.

### 2. doing an action

verb · CEFR A2

the action of doing a task, a piece of music, or a play right now.

For teachers: the present participle of 'perform', indicating an action in progress or a continuous state of execution.

- The band is performing their most famous song at the concert tonight.
- While performing the delicate surgery, the doctor remained remarkably calm despite the unexpected complications that arose.

### 3. related to shows

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe things related to the arts, like music, dance, or acting.

For teachers: attributive adjective referring to the arts or the act of public presentation.

- The city is famous for its many performing arts centres and theatres.
- The university recently doubled its funding for the performing arts department to attract more international talent.

## Examples

- She loves performing and hopes to be an actress one day.
- The school focuses on performing as a way to build confidence and public speaking skills in young students.
- While technical proficiency is essential, the true art of performing lies in the ability to convey genuine emotion and connect with a diverse audience on a visceral level.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.