perform

/pəˈfɔːm/

//pəˈfɔːm// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"perform" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“perform” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,226 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#2,226
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To do (something); to execute.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

perform vs performed
78% similar
perform vs performer
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for perform
PropertyValue
Headwordperform
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/pəˈfɔːm/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,226
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “perform” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). perform lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for perform is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pəˈfɔːm/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,226 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for perform, with forms such as "eprform", "pefrorm", and "perfform". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "performed", "performer", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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 *frumm… The correct English form is perform, spelled P-E-R-F-O-R-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    To do (something); to execute.
  2. 2
    To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.
  3. 3
    To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.
  4. 4
    To act in a way set forth in a contract.
  5. 5
    To act in a way set forth in a contract.
  6. 6
    To do (something) in front of an audience, such as acting or music, often in order to entertain.
  7. 7
    To behave theatrically so as to give the impression of (a quality, character trait, etc.); to feign.
  8. 8
    Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.
  9. 9
    Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.

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.

This word in other languages

hacer(Español)exécuter(Français)durchführen(Deutsch)realizar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprform,pefrorm,perfform,perfomr,performm,perforrm,perfrom,perofrm,perrform,pperform,preform

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of perform - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

eprform2pefrorm2perfform1perfomr2performm1perforrm1perfrom2perofrm2
Edit distance from "perform"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "perform"?
"perform" is spelled P-E-R-F-O-R-M. The IPA pronunciation is /pəˈfɔːm/.
What does "perform" mean?
As a verb, "perform" means: To do (something); to execute.
What words are commonly confused with "perform"?
"perform" is commonly confused with "performed", "performer". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "perform"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "perform" is /pəˈfɔːm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "perform"?
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 Frank... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “perform”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-E-R-F-O-R-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pəˈfɔːm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “performed” - see the side-by-side comparison. perform vs performed
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list