different between perform vs fulfill

English

Etymology

From Middle English performen, parfournen (“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 *frumjan (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjan?, *framjan? (“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”), Gothic ???????????????????????????? (frumjan, “to promote, accomplish”). See also frame, from.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??f??m/, enPR: p?r-fôrm?
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??f??m/, enPR: p?r-fôrm?
• Rhymes: -??(?)m
• Hyphenation: per?form

Verb

perform (third-person singular simple present performs, present participle performing, simple past and past participle performed)

1. (transitive) To do (something); to execute.
2. (intransitive) To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.

3. (law) To act in a way set forth in a contract.
   1. (transitive) To act in accordance with (a contract); to fulfill one’s terms of (a contract).

   2. (intransitive) To fulfill contractually agreed-to terms.

4. (transitive, intransitive) To do (something) in front of an audience, such as acting or music, often in order to entertain.
5. (by extension, transitive) To behave theatrically so as to give the impression of (a quality, character trait, etc.); to feign.
6. (social sciences) Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.
   1. (transitive) To behave in accordance with, and thereby in turn shape, (a social notion or role).

   2. (intransitive) To behave in ways that carry meaning in social contexts.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• perform in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• perform in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• perform at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• preform

English

Alternative forms

• (UK) fulfil

Etymology

From Middle English fulfillen, from Old English fullfyllan (“to fill full”), corresponding to ful- +? fill.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f?l?f?l/, /f??f?l/
• Rhymes: -?l

Verb

fulfill (third-person singular simple present fulfills, present participle fulfilling, simple past and past participle fulfilled) (American spelling)

1. To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
2. To emotionally or artistically satisfy; to develop one's gifts to the fullest.

3. To obey, follow, comply with (a rule, requirement etc.).

4. (business) To package, distribute, or ship goods.
5. (archaic) To fill full; fill to the utmost capacity; fill up.
   • 1870, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night

     The silence which benumbs or strains the sense

     Fulfils with awe the soul's despair unweeping

Derived terms

• fulfilled
• fulfilling
• fulfillable
• (chiefly US) fulfillment; (UK) fulfilment
• unfulfilled

Translations