Perform vs. Preform

Performverb

To do something; to execute.

‘The scientists performed several experiments.’; ‘It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.’;

Preformnoun

An object that has undergone preliminary shaping but is not yet in its final form.

Performverb

To do something in front of an audience, often in order to entertain it.

‘She will perform in the play.’; ‘The magician performed badly – none of his tricks worked.’; ‘The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.’;

Preformnoun

(archaeology) The rough, incomplete and unused basic form of a stone tool.

Performverb

To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do.

‘I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.’; ‘Great force to perform what they did attempt.’;

Preformnoun

(linguistics) A word that is no longer in use, but has been reconstructed from current ones.

Performverb

To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow.

‘To perform your father's will.’;

Preformverb

To shape something before some other operation.

Performverb

To represent; to act; to play; as in drama.

‘Perform a part thou hast not done before.’;

Preformverb

To form beforehand, or for special ends.

Performverb

To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the organ.

Preformverb

form into a shape resembling the final, desired one

Performverb

carry out or perform an action;

‘John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters’; ‘the skater executed a triple pirouette’; ‘she did a little dance’;

Preformverb

form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand

Performverb

perform a function;

‘Who will perform the wedding?’;

Preformverb

form (something) beforehand

‘a preformed pool’;

Performverb

give a performance (of something);

‘Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight’; ‘We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera’;

Performverb

get (something) done;

‘I did my job’;

Performverb

carry out, accomplish, or fulfil (an action, task, or function)

‘I have my duties to perform’;

Performverb

work, function, or do something well or to a specified standard

‘the car performs well at low speeds’; ‘our £120 million investment in the company is not performing at present’;

Performverb

have successful or satisfactory sexual intercourse with someone

‘when I go to bed with any other woman I am quite unable to perform’;

Performverb

present (a form of entertainment) to an audience

‘the play has already been performed in Britain’;

Performverb

entertain an audience, typically by acting, singing, or dancing on stage

‘the band will be performing live in Hyde Park’;