Perform vs. Preform — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 11, 2023
"Perform" means to carry out, execute, or present an action, task, or show. "Preform" means to shape or create in advance, usually as a preliminary step to something else.
Difference Between Perform and Preform
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Perform" often denotes the execution or presentation of a task, action, or event. It could involve anything from singing on stage to completing a job. "Preform," on the other hand, is more specific and usually means to shape or create something in advance, often as a precursor to further manufacturing or processing.
While "perform" can be used in a broad range of contexts, including arts, sciences, and daily life, "preform" is more commonly used in manufacturing and material sciences. For example, you perform a dance, but you preform a plastic component to be used in a larger assembly.
In terms of grammatical usage, "perform" and "preform" are both verbs, but their prefixes signify different actions. "Per-" in perform implies thoroughness or completeness in action, while "pre-" in preform implies action in advance.
"Perform" has several derivatives, like performance and performer, expanding its lexical family. "Preform" is a more specialized term and has fewer derivatives, usually sticking to technical contexts.
Both words, though only one letter apart, serve very different purposes. "Perform" is likely to be more commonly encountered in day-to-day English, while "preform" would be encountered in more specialized, technical contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
Execution or presentation
Shaping in advance
Context
Broad range
Manufacturing/materials
Grammatical Role
Verb
Verb
Prefix
"Per-" implies completeness
"Pre-" implies prior action
Derivatives
Performance, Performer
Fewer derivatives
Compare with Definitions
Perform
To carry out an action or task.
She will perform surgery tomorrow.
Preform
To shape or create in advance.
They preform the metal before molding.
Perform
To conduct or carry out a formal act.
She performed the ceremony.
Preform
To arrange or set in advance.
The tasks are preformed in the schedule.
Perform
To present an art form to an audience.
The band will perform tonight.
Preform
To set or fix beforehand.
The software preforms default settings.
Perform
To operate or function in a specific manner.
The car performs well on highways.
Preform
To make a preliminary version.
The factory preforms the plastic sheets.
Perform
To accomplish or fulfill something.
He performed his duties diligently.
Preform
To fashion or construct preliminarily.
The artist preforms a clay model.
Perform
Carry out, accomplish, or fulfil (an action, task, or function)
I have my duties to perform
Preform
Form (something) beforehand
A preformed pool
Perform
Present (a form of entertainment) to an audience
The play has already been performed in Britain
Preform
To shape or form beforehand.
Perform
To begin and carry through to completion; do
The surgeon performed the operation.
Preform
To determine the shape or form of beforehand.
Perform
To take action in accordance with the requirements of; fulfill
Perform one's contractual obligations.
Preform
An object that has been subjected to preliminary, usually incomplete shaping or molding before undergoing complete or final processing.
Perform
To enact (a feat or role) before an audience.
Preform
(Linguistics) A reconstructed ancestral word or form.
Perform
To give a public presentation of; present
My theater group performed a three-act play.
Preform
An object that has undergone preliminary shaping but is not yet in its final form.
Perform
To function or accomplish something as expected or required
A car that performs well on curves.
Workers not performing up to standard.
Preform
(archaeology) The rough, incomplete and unused basic form of a stone tool.
Perform
To yield a return on investment
Stocks that performed well.
Preform
(linguistics) A word that is no longer in use, but has been reconstructed from current ones.
Perform
To portray a role or demonstrate a skill before an audience
The juggler performed atop a unicycle.
Preform
To shape something before some other operation.
Perform
To present a dramatic or musical work or other entertainment before an audience.
Preform
To form beforehand, or for special ends.
Perform
(transitive) To do (something); to execute.
The scientists performed several experiments.
It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.
Preform
Form into a shape resembling the final, desired one
Perform
(intransitive) To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.
The new employee performs well.
Preform
Form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand
Perform
(law) To act in a way set forth in a contract.
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.
Perform
(intransitive) To fulfill contractually agreed-to terms.
They entered into an agreement and now they are obliged to perform.
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.
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
Common Curiosities
Are Perform and Preform interchangeable?
No, they have different meanings and are used in different contexts.
Is Perform only used in arts and entertainment?
No, "perform" is used in various contexts including work, tasks, and functionality.
Is Preform a technical term?
Generally, yes. It is most commonly used in manufacturing and material sciences.
What does Preform mean?
"Preform" means to shape or create something in advance.
What is the prefix in Perform?
The prefix "per-" implies thoroughness or completeness in action.
What is the prefix in Preform?
The prefix "pre-" implies action taken in advance.
Is Perform a noun or a verb?
"Perform" is primarily a verb.
Are there derivatives of Perform?
Yes, like performance and performer.
Are there derivatives of Preform?
Fewer, and mostly in technical contexts.
Is Preform a noun or a verb?
"Preform" is primarily a verb.
Can Perform mean to function well?
Yes, as in "the car performs well."
What does Perform mean?
"Perform" means to carry out or execute a task, action, or event.
Is Preform used in everyday language?
Not typically; it's more common in specialized fields like manufacturing.
Can you Perform a Preform?
You can perform the action of preforming, such as shaping a material in advance.
How do you spell Perform and Preform?
Perform is spelled P-E-R-F-O-R-M, and Preform is spelled P-R-E-F-O-R-M.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
