Perform vs We ran the test

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Perform

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

We ran the test

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Perform
 PerformWe ran the test
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːm/","/pəˈfɔːmz/","/pəˈfɔːmd/","/pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrm/","/pərˈfɔːrmz/","/pərˈfɔːrmd/","/pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //wiː ræn ðə tɛst//🇺🇸 //wi ræn ðə tɛst//
Meaningto do something, especially in front of othersWe did the test.
ExampleShe will perform a song at the concert tonight.We ran the test to check the new software features.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationslive, in public, publicly, first performed, rarely performed, see something performed, effectively, efficiently, properly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to, failure to perform something, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be able to, be unable to, be expected torun a test, run tests, run diagnostic tests, run performance tests, run a feasibility test
Antonymsneglect, ignore, abort-
Common mistakesUsed incorrectly as 'performance' instead of 'perform', Confused with 'present', especially in a non-theatrical context, Using 'perform' without specifying what is being performedConfused with 'ran' as in past tense of 'run' with physical activity., Inaccurately using 'run the test' for non-testing activities.
Usage notesUsed in contexts such as theater, music, and tasks. Common in both informal and formal settings. Avoid when not discussing an action or task.Commonly used in academic and professional contexts. More informal in casual conversations; avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

Perform
We ran the test

Frequently asked questions: Perform vs We ran the test

What's the difference between Perform and We ran the test?

Perform: to do something, especially in front of others We ran the test: We did the test.

Which is more common: Perform and We ran the test?

Perform is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Perform: She will perform a song at the concert tonight. We ran the test: We ran the test to check the new software features.

Can I use Perform and We ran the test interchangeably?

Not always. Perform and We ran the test are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.