execute

American  

[ek-si-kyoot] / ˈɛk sɪˌkjut /

verb (used with object)

executes, present (3rd person singular) executed, past participle, past executing present participle

1. to carry out; accomplish.

   to execute a plan or order.

   Synonyms:

   finish, consummate, complete, achieve

2. to perform or do.

   to execute a maneuver;

   to execute a gymnastic feat.

3. to inflict capital punishment on; put to death according to law.

4. to murder; assassinate.

5. to produce in accordance with a plan or design.

   a painting executed by an unknown artist.

6. to perform or play (a piece of music).

7. Law.

   1. to give effect or force to (a law, decree, judicial sentence, etc.).

   2. to carry out the terms of (a will).

   3. to transact or carry through (a contract, mortgage, etc.) in the manner prescribed by law; complete and give validity to (a legal instrument) by fulfilling the legal requirements, as by signing or sealing.

8. Computers. to run (a program or routine) or carry out (an instruction in a program).

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verb (used without object)

executes, present (3rd person singular) executed, past participle, past executing present participle

1. to perform or accomplish something, as an assigned task.

2. Sports. to perform properly the fundamental moves or mechanics of a sport, game, position, or particular play; show smoothness in necessary skills.

   We just didn't execute defensively.

execute British  

/ ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt /

verb

1. to put (a condemned person) to death; inflict capital punishment upon

2. to carry out; complete; perform; do

   to execute an order

3. to perform; accomplish; effect

   to execute a pirouette

4. to make or produce

   to execute a drawing

5. to carry into effect (a judicial sentence, the law, etc); enforce

6. law to comply with legal formalities in order to render (a deed, etc) effective, as by signing, sealing, and delivering

7. to sign (a will) in the presence of witnesses and in accordance with other legal formalities

8. to carry out the terms of (a contract, will, etc)

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Synonym Usage

See perform. See kill ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• executer
  noun
• outexecute
  verb (used with object)
• preexecute
  verb (used with object)
• reexecute
  verb (used with object)
• executable
  adjective
• nonexecutable
  adjective
• unexecutable
  adjective
• unexecuting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• executing
  present
• executed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• execute
  simple
• executes
  simple
• have executed
  perfect
• has executed
  perfect
• am executing
  progressive
• are executing
  progressive
• is executing
  progressive
• have been executing
  perfect progressive
• has been executing
  perfect progressive

Past

• executed
  simple
• had executed
  perfect
• was executing
  progressive
• were executing
  progressive
• had been executing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will execute
  simple
• will have executed
  perfect
• will be executing
  progressive
• will have been executing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of execute

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English executen, from Old French executer, from Medieval Latin execūtāre, derivative of Latin execūtus, past participle of ex(s)equī “to follow up, carry out (punishment), execute”; see ex- ¹, sequence

Explanation

To execute means to carry out in full or perform. If you execute all the difficult steps of the dance perfectly, you will make your instructor proud. Here’s what’s tricky about execute: the first thing you think of is being punished with death for criminal actions. Actually, it's more commonly used in the sense of “to carry out in full.” So don't be alarmed with visions of the hooded guy at the guillotine when someone congratulates you on a plan well executed. Think of the word executive to get a closer grasp of both the meaning and the context.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

execute executes executed executing

SpaceX will aspire the next time around to execute a launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and landing burn of the booster offshore without hiccups.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

"It is filmmaking at a magnitude few modern directors could ever realistically imagine, demand, or execute."

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

“These conditions require our teams to execute perfectly, and this quarter we faltered,” Krishna said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

It sounds like you know what to do, but are also aware of how stressful it will be to execute.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

During the meeting, James Shoun was named the administrator of the estate of Bill Smith’s murdered wife, Rita, which allowed him to execute her will.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

And whoever executes their gameplan the best will lift the trophy.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

One of the others is the Brick, that little piece of plastic that has exactly one job—to make my phone stop working in distracting ways—and executes it to perfection.

From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2026

He said that Schulman’s focus on cost-cutting and simplifying plans for customers could help inject stability into the business if Verizon executes well.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 2, 2026

Verizon’s VZ -0.39%decrease; red down pointing triangle head of its consumer division, Sowmyanarayan Sampath, is stepping down, marking the latest shake-up as the company executes a strategic turnaround.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

She leaps from her perch, deploys a tiny parachute, and executes a soft landing—straddling the thrumming ray gun as if it was a bucking bronco.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

The Supreme Court told us in Slaughter that the president’s constitutional duty is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

The army said the children and staff were rescued following "carefully planned and executed" operations alongside intelligence agencies, police and local vigilante groups.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

Completed buybacks — not just authorized repurchases but ones that are actually executed — are also running at a record pace, according to Rubin.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

Most skills came back seamlessly, even ones she hadn’t executed in competition since she was 16.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed, and, while her courage was high, she immediately said:

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Unified’s revised plan must identify “the exact actions, responsible departments, timelines and measurable performance metrics for executing each proposed expenditure reduction or revenue enhancement,” Duardo’s letter said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

New technologies are upending military doctrines on everything from procurement to executing operations, writes Yaroslav Trofimov.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

The FTC, the court said, “unquestionably exercises executive power,” its work the very essence of executing the law.

From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026

Despite his superstar status, he made long and intense recovery runs before executing perfectly timed slide tackles to stop dangerously fast breaks.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

“Nope!” shouted Kyle, executing a pretty nifty barrel roll by swiveling his hips.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• accomplish
• complete
• do
• enact
• enforce
• implement
• meet
• perform
• prosecute
• pull off
• take care of