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definitions

execute

[ek-si-kyoot]
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verb (used with object), ex·e·cut·ed, ex·e·cut·ing.
  1. to carry out; accomplish: to execute a plan or order.
  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 to carry out (an instruction in a program).
verb (used without object), ex·e·cut·ed, ex·e·cut·ing.
  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.

Origin of execute

1350–1400; Middle English executen < Old French executer < Medieval Latin execūtāre, derivative of Latin execūtus, past participle of ex(s)equī to follow up, carry out (punishment), execute; see ex-1, sequence
Related formsex·e·cut·a·ble, adjectiveex·e·cut·er, nounnon·ex·e·cut·a·ble, adjectiveout·ex·e·cute, verb (used with object), out·ex·e·cut·ed, out·ex·e·cut·ing.pre·ex·e·cute, verb (used with object), pre·ex·e·cut·ed, pre·ex·e·cut·ing.re·ex·e·cute, verb (used with object), re·ex·e·cut·ed, re·ex·e·cut·ing.un·ex·e·cut·a·ble, adjectiveun·ex·e·cut·ed, adjectiveun·ex·e·cut·ing, adjectivewell-ex·e·cut·ed, adjective

Synonym study

2. See perform. 3. See kill1.

Synonyms for execute

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1. achieve, complete, finish, consummate. 7a. enforce, administer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for execute

shoot, assassinate, murder, hang, behead, prosecute, accomplish, complete, do, perform, meet, implement, enforce, enact, electrocute, finish, liquidate, gas, purge, eliminate

Examples from the Web for execute

Contemporary Examples of execute

Historical Examples of execute

British Dictionary definitions for execute

execute

verb (tr)
  1. to put (a condemned person) to death; inflict capital punishment upon
  2. to carry out; complete; perform; doto execute an order
  3. to perform; accomplish; effectto execute a pirouette
  4. to make or produceto 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)
Derived Formsexecuter, noun

Word Origin for execute

C14: from Old French executer, back formation from executeur executor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for execute
v.

late 14c., "to carry into effect," from Old French executer (14c.), from Medieval Latin executare, from Latin execut-/exsecut-, past participle stem of exequi/exsequi "to follow out" (see execution). Meaning "to inflict capital punishment" is from late 15c. Related: Executed; executing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper