First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
execute
verb ex·e·cute \ˈek-si-ˌkyüt\
: to kill (someone) especially as punishment for a crime
: to do (something that you have planned to do or been told to do)
: to do or perform (an action or movement that requires skill)
ex·e·cut·edex·e·cut·ing
Full Definition of EXECUTE
transitive verb
1
: to carry out fully : put completely into effect <execute a command>
2
: to do what is provided or required by <execute a decree>
3
: to put to death especially in compliance with a legal sentence
4
: to make or produce (as a work of art) especially by carrying out a design
5
: to perform what is required to give validity to <execute a deed>
6
: play <execute a piece of music>
intransitive verb
1
: to perform properly or skillfully the fundamentals of a sport or of a particular play <never had a team execute better — Bobby Knight>
2
: to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions —used of a computer program or routine
— ex·e·cut·able \-ˌkyü-tə-bəl\ adjective
See execute defined for English-language learners
See execute defined for kids
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Origin of EXECUTE
Middle English, from Anglo-French executer, from execucion execution
Related to EXECUTE
- Synonyms
- administer, apply, enforce, implement
Synonym Discussion of EXECUTE
kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life. kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner <killed in an accident> <frost killed the plants>. slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive <slew thousands of the Philistines>. murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility <convicted of murdering a rival>. assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives <terrorists assassinated the Senator>. dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death <dispatched the sentry with one bullet>. execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty <executed by lethal gas>.
perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect. perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill <performed gymnastics>. execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent <executed the hit-and-run>. discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks <discharged his duties>. accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out <accomplished everything they set out to do>. achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties <achieve greatness>. effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles <effected sweeping reforms>. fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities <fulfilled their ambitions>.
perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect. perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill <performed gymnastics>. execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent <executed the hit-and-run>. discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks <discharged his duties>. accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out <accomplished everything they set out to do>. achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties <achieve greatness>. effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles <effected sweeping reforms>. fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities <fulfilled their ambitions>.
Rhymes with EXECUTE
absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, substitute, troubleshoot, undershoot
EXECUTABLE Defined for Kids
execute
verb ex·e·cute \ˈek-sə-ˌkyüt\
ex·e·cut·edex·e·cut·ing
Definition of EXECUTE for Kids
1
: to kill according to a legal order
2
: to put into effect : perform or carry out <execute a plan>
3
: to make according to a design <The painting was executed in bright colors.>
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