- the act or process of executing
- the carrying out or undergoing of a sentence of death
- the style or manner in which something is accomplished or performed; technique: as a pianist his execution is poor
- the enforcement of the judgment of a court of law
- the writ ordering such enforcement
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ex•e•cu•tion
(ek′si kyo̅o̅′shən),USA pronunciation n.
ex′e•cu′tion•al, adj.
- the act or process of executing.
- the state or fact of being executed.
- the infliction of capital punishment or, formerly, of any legal punishment.
- the process of performing a judgment or sentence of a court:The judge stayed execution of the sentence pending appeal.
- a mode or style of performance;
technical skill, as in music:The pianist's execution of the sonata was consummate. - effective, usually destructive action, or the result attained by it (usually prec. by do):The grenades did rapid execution.
- Lawa judicial writ directing the enforcement of a judgment.
- Computingthe act of running, or the results of having run, a program or routine, or the performance of an instruction.
- Latin execūtiōn- (stem of execūtiō). See executive, -ion
- Middle English execucioun 1250–1300
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
execution /ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən/ n
ex•e•cute /ˈɛksɪˌkyut/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -cut•ed, -cut•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to carry out; accomplish: to execute a plan.
- to perform or do: to execute a handstand.
- to put to death according to law:The murderer was executed in the electric chair.
- to murder;
assassinate:The rebel army leaders executed the general. - Computingto run (a computer program) or process (a command):The program is executed by typing RUN at the prompt.
ex•e•cute
(ek′si kyo̅o̅t′),USA pronunciation v., -cut•ed, -cut•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
ex′e•cut′a•ble, adj.
ex′e•cut′er, n.
v.t.
- to carry out;
accomplish:to execute a plan or order. - to perform or do:to execute a maneuver; to execute a gymnastic feat.
- to inflict capital punishment on;
put to death according to law. - to murder;
assassinate. - to produce in accordance with a plan or design:a painting executed by an unknown artist.
- Music and Danceto perform or play (a piece of music).
- Law
- to give effect or force to (a law, decree, judicial sentence, etc.).
- to carry out the terms of (a will).
- 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.
- Computingto run (a program or routine) or to carry out (an instruction in a program).
v.i.
- to perform or accomplish something, as an assigned task.
- Sportto 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.
- Medieval Latin execūtāre, derivative of Latin execūtus, past participle of ex(s)equī to follow up, carry out (punishment), execute; see ex-1, sequence
- Old French executer
- Middle English executen 1350–1400
ex′e•cut′er, n.
- 1. achieve, complete, finish, consummate. 2. See perform. 3. See kill 1. 7. a. enforce, administer.
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'execution' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
administer
- auto-da-fé
- Barton
- bravura
- Bridge of Sighs
- Cromwell
- cross
- death camp
- dispatch
- electric chair
- engross
- Fotheringhay
- gallows
- garrotte
- general staff
- grand
- grandiose
- guillotine
- interpreter
- loader
- Louis XVII
- mechanism
- More
- multitasking
- Northumberland
- outdo
- phonate
- poind
- Querétaro
- reprisal
- respite
- robustness
- Salem
- sanctuary
- scratch file
- session
- slur
- Smith
- stay
- summary
- suspension
- time
- Tyburn
- variable
- writ of execution
- Yekaterinburg
- accomplishment
- art
- art director
- artistic
