Perform vs. Preform: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on October 22, 2023
Perform means to carry out, execute, or present an activity; Preform is to shape or make something in advance.
Key Differences
Perform typically refers to the execution or presentation of an activity, whether it be in the arts, sports, or any general task. Preform, on the other hand, is a more specific term, often indicating the act of shaping or fashioning something before its final form.
When someone says they will Perform a task, it implies they will carry out or accomplish that particular activity to completion. In contrast, to Preform might mean to shape, design, or even mold something in a preliminary stage, setting it up for its final processing or creation.
Artists, athletes, and professionals Perform every day, showcasing their skills, talents, and expertise in their respective fields. However, industries, especially manufacturing, might Preform materials, implying that they shape or prepare them in advance before the final product is made.
For instance, a musician Performs on stage to present their art to the audience. In a different scenario, a factory might Preform plastic into specific shapes before it is set and finalized into a product, ensuring efficiency and consistency.
Though the two terms sound similar, their usages are quite distinct. While Perform encapsulates a broad spectrum of actions and presentations across various fields, Preform remains anchored primarily to preliminary shaping or designing in manufacturing and production contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
To carry out or present an activity
To shape or make something in advance
Contextual Usage
Arts, sports, general tasks
Manufacturing, preliminary design
Related to Action
Execution or presentation
Shaping or designing
Examples
Musicians, athletes
Industries shaping materials
Temporal Implication
Current or future activity
Preparation for a later process
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Perform and Preform Definitions
Perform
To execute a specific task.
She will perform the necessary calculations.
Preform
To arrange beforehand.
The ingredients are preformed for the final recipe.
Perform
To present an artistic act.
The band will perform live tonight.
Preform
To mold or design in advance.
They preform the metal sheets before assembly.
Perform
To begin and carry through to completion; do
The surgeon performed the operation.
Preform
To create an initial version.
The design was preformed before finalization.
Perform
To take action in accordance with the requirements of; fulfill
Perform one's contractual obligations.
Preform
To shape into a preliminary structure.
The clay is preformed before baking.
Perform
To enact (a feat or role) before an audience.
Preform
To shape or form beforehand.
Perform
To give a public presentation of; present
My theater group performed a three-act play.
Preform
To determine the shape or form of beforehand.
Perform
To function or accomplish something as expected or required
A car that performs well on curves.
Workers not performing up to standard.
Preform
An object that has been subjected to preliminary, usually incomplete shaping or molding before undergoing complete or final processing.
Perform
To yield a return on investment
Stocks that performed well.
Preform
(Linguistics) A reconstructed ancestral word or form.
Perform
To portray a role or demonstrate a skill before an audience
The juggler performed atop a unicycle.
Preform
An object that has undergone preliminary shaping but is not yet in its final form.
Perform
To present a dramatic or musical work or other entertainment before an audience.
Preform
(archaeology) The rough, incomplete and unused basic form of a stone tool.
Perform
(transitive) To do (something); to execute.
The scientists performed several experiments.
It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.
Preform
(linguistics) A word that is no longer in use, but has been reconstructed from current ones.
Perform
(intransitive) To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.
The new employee performs well.
Preform
To shape something before some other operation.
Perform
(law) To act in a way set forth in a contract.
Preform
To form beforehand, or for special ends.
Perform
(transitive) To act in accordance with (a contract); to fulfill one’s terms of (a contract).
Failure to perform a contract on time may constitute a breach of contract.
Preform
Form into a shape resembling the final, desired one
Perform
(intransitive) To fulfill contractually agreed-to terms.
They entered into an agreement and now they are obliged to perform.
Preform
Form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand
Perform
(ambitransitive) To do (something) in front of an audience, such as acting or music, often in order to entertain.
She will perform in the play.
The magician performed badly—none of his tricks worked.
The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.
Preform
To establish or set in advance.
The workshop preforms certain standards.
Perform
To behave theatrically so as to give the impression of (a quality, character trait, etc.); to feign.
The accused only performed remorse.
Perform
(social science) Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.
Perform
(transitive) To behave in accordance with, and thereby in turn shape, (a social notion or role).
Perform masculinity
Perform authority
Perform
(intransitive) To behave in ways that carry meaning in social contexts.
Individuals in societies perform all the time.
Perform
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.
Perform
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.
Perform
To represent; to act; to play; as in drama.
Perform a part thou hast not done before.
Perform
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.
Perform
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
Perform
Perform a function;
Who will perform the wedding?
Perform
Give a performance (of something);
Horowitz is performing at Carnegie Hall tonight
We performed a popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera
Perform
Get (something) done;
I did my job
Perform
To function or work in a specific manner.
The machine performs efficiently.
Perform
To accomplish a duty or promise.
He always performs his obligations.
Perform
To behave in a particular way.
She performed admirably under pressure.
FAQs
Is Preform specific to manufacturing?
Often, but it can relate to any preliminary shaping or designing.
Do the two terms sound similar?
Yes, but they have different meanings and usages.
What's a common use of Perform?
Executing or presenting an activity, like an artist on stage.
Can Perform relate to duties?
Yes, it can mean fulfilling obligations or tasks.
Can a machine Perform?
Yes, indicating how it operates or functions.
Is Perform always public?
No, it can be any executed action, public or private.
Can you Perform a dance?
Yes, showcasing it to an audience.
What does Preform primarily relate to?
Shaping or designing something in advance.
Can an actor Perform?
Absolutely, on stage or in a film.
Can you Preform a plan?
Yes, suggesting you draft or set it in advance.
How does Preform relate to efficiency?
It ensures consistency and preparedness for final processes.
What might a factory Preform?
Materials or components for later assembly.
Does Perform imply expertise?
Often, especially when showcasing skills.
Can you Preform an idea?
Yes, meaning you shape or draft it before finalizing.
Is Preforming always physical?
Often, but it can also relate to abstract preparation.
Is Preform about anticipation?
It involves setting or arranging things in advance.
Is every action a Performance?
No, but any executed task can be considered a performance.
Does Preforming ensure better outcomes?
It can, by preparing things in advance.
Which term is broader in usage?
Perform, as it applies to a wide range of actions and presentations.
Can someone Perform daily tasks?
Yes, like performing household chores.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
