encore
AHN-kor
/ˈɒŋkɔːr/
An additional performance given at the end of a concert in response to enthusiastic applause.
Implies an unprogrammed extra piece delivered as a reward for sustained audience applause.
The story behind the word. In 18th-century French theater, audiences shouted 'encore!' (meaning 'again!') to demand singers repeat favorite numbers. English adopted both the chant and the noun form in the 19th century.
Word relationships
- curtain call: A 'curtain call' involves returning to bow, while an 'encore' requires additional music or performance.
Commonly confused with
- entrance: An entrance is arriving on stage; an encore is returning for extra performance after ending.
Word family
- encore (verb): to demand or perform an additional piece
Collocations
- call for an encore
- play an encore
- demand an encore
- unexpected encore
Example sentences
- "The soprano returned to the stage for a dramatic encore after five minutes of unbroken applause." Opera performance
- "The audience shouted 'Encore!' until the band walked back out to play their biggest hit." Rock concert
Memory hook
ENCORE sounds like ONCE MORE! ENCORE = ONCE MORE!
When not to use
Do not use to describe scheduled intermissions or middle-set performances.
Fun facts
- In classical opera, encores were once strictly forbidden in venues like Milan's La Scala to protect singers' voices.
Explore more words
tribute, acclaim, supplementary, plaudit, ensemble, enthusiastic
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