execute

To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.

Verb

  1. To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.
    • There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.
    • According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war.
    • Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge, / For Treaſon executed in our late Kings dayes? - 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies,...

    Coordinate Terms: murder

  2. To carry out; to put into effect.
    • Your orders have been executed, sir!
    • I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.
    • Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day? - 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter...
  3. To perform.
    • to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly
    • to execute a turn in ballet
    • Affinity groups will plan and execute nonviolent actions to both symbolically and directly challenge weapons development. - 1989 February 12, Escalating Peace: A Next Step To Resist Global Violence, “George Jarret”, in...
  4. To carry out, to perform an act; to put into effect or cause to become legally binding or valid (as a contract) by so doing.
    • to execute a contract
  5. To start, launch, or run.
    • to execute a program

    Synonyms: start launch run open

  6. To run, usually successfully.
    • The program executed, but data problems were discovered.

Origin

From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”).

Forms

executes executing executed exequte exequute exsecute exsequute

Synonyms

perform carry out do

Derived

electrocute executability executable executed execute order execution executioner executive executor executrix executry misexecute nonexecuted nonexecuting outexecute reexecute self-executing unexecute unexecuted