encore
B2Formal/Informal (context-dependent); common in arts/performance contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A repeated or additional performance at the end of a concert, called for by an enthusiastic audience.
Any additional performance, act, or occurrence requested by an audience, or used figuratively to mean a repeat or recurrence of a successful event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a performance-related noun and verb. Figurative use (e.g., 'an encore presentation') is common but secondary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight variation in frequency of figurative use (e.g., 'encore performance' is slightly more common in AmE advertising).
Connotations
Connotes audience approval and high quality. In figurative use, can imply something is good enough to be repeated.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects within performance contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The audience encored the performer.They played an encore.She was called back for an encore.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take a curtain call”
- “bring the house down (leads to an encore)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically in marketing: 'The product launch was so successful, we're planning an encore next quarter.'
Academic
Rare outside musicology or performance studies.
Everyday
Common when discussing concerts, shows, or televised events.
Technical
Standard term in performing arts, theatre, and music industry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The crowd encored the cellist three times.
- She was encored for her stunning aria.
American English
- The audience encored the band until they came back out.
- He was encored after his solo.
adverb
British English
- Usage as a pure adverb is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- Usage as a pure adverb is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- They gave an encore performance by special request.
- The encore song was a classic.
American English
- We stayed for the encore number.
- The show had an encore presentation on Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The concert was great. The band played an encore.
- People shouted 'Encore!' at the end.
- After the final song, the audience demanded an encore for five minutes.
- The singer returned to the stage for one more song as an encore.
- Despite the late hour, the enthusiastic crowd encored the jazz quartet, who happily obliged with two more pieces.
- The festival's most talked-about act will have an encore performance next weekend.
- Critics noted that the director's latest film felt like an uninspired encore of his earlier, more groundbreaking work.
- The committee voted for an encore of last year's highly successful fundraising gala.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an audience shouting 'ENCORE!' which sounds like 'ON CORE' – the performance was so on-point (on core) they demand it again.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A REPEATABLE COMMODITY (figurative use).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'бис' only in musical context; 'encore' as a verb ('to encore') has no direct equivalent in Russian.
- Figurative use ('encore presentation') is not typically translated as 'бис'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'encore' to mean any repeat (e.g., 'I watched the movie in encore' – incorrect).
- Pronouncing it as /ɛnˈkɔːr/ (en-CORE) instead of /ˈɑːn.kɔːr/ (ON-core).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'encore' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though less common than the noun. It means 'to call for or perform an encore' (e.g., 'The audience encored the soloist').
Yes, this is a standard figurative use, especially in American English (e.g., 'an encore presentation' of a show).
A curtain call is when performers come on stage to bow at the end. An encore is an additional performance that happens after the curtain call or instead of it.
The standard pronunciation stresses the first syllable: ON-core (/ˈɑːn.kɔːr/ in AmE, /ˈɒŋ.kɔː/ in BrE). Avoid pronouncing it as 'en-CORE'.