Definition

1. Verb:
   • To carry out or perform an action, plan, or order: To complete a task or put a plan into effect.
   • To put to death, especially as a legal penalty: To kill someone as a form of capital punishment.
   • To make legally valid: To complete the legal formalities for a document, such as signing it.
   • To perform a skill or movement: To perform a complex physical or artistic action skillfully.

Examples of Usage

• To carry out an action:
  • The software will execute the command.
  • The manager executed the company's new strategy flawlessly.
• To put to death legally:
  • The state may execute convicted murderers.
  • The prisoner was executed at dawn.
• To make legally valid:
  • The lawyer helped them execute the contract.
  • You must execute the will in the presence of witnesses.
• To perform a skill:
  • The gymnast executed a perfect somersault.
  • The pianist executed the difficult sonata with great feeling.

Advanced Usage

• "to execute a will": To complete the legal process of signing and validating a last will and testament.
  • The family gathered to watch the elderly man execute his will.
• "to execute a turn" (in sports/driving): To perform a maneuver precisely.
  • The race car driver executed a sharp turn at high speed.
• "to execute an order" (military/business): To carry out a command or instruction.
  • The soldiers executed the general's order without hesitation.

Variants and Related Words

• Execution (n): The act of executing.
  • The execution of the plan was successful.
  • The execution was carried out by lethal injection.
• Executor (n): A person appointed to carry out the terms of a will.
  • He was named the executor of his uncle's estate.
• Executive (adj/n): Relating to the management or execution of plans; a person with managerial authority.
  • She has strong executive skills.
  • The company's executives made the decision.

Synonyms

• Implement: To put a decision, plan, or system into effect.
• Carry out: To perform a task or fulfill a duty.
• Perform: To carry out an action or task.
• Administer: To manage and be responsible for the execution of.
• Put to death: To kill as a legal punishment.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Execute" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically conveyed by the verb alone or with specific direct objects.)

Related Idioms

• "To execute a U-turn": To make a complete reversal in direction or policy.
  • The government executed a U-turn on its tax policy.
• "To be executed to perfection": To be performed flawlessly.
  • The wedding ceremony was executed to perfection.

Verb

1. sign in the presence of witnesses
   • The President executed the treaty
2. carry out or perform an action
   • John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters
   • the skater executed a triple pirouette
   • she did a little dance
3. carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
   • Run the dishwasher
   • run a new program on the Mac
   • the computer executed the instruction
4. carry out the legalities of
   • execute a will or a deed
5. put in effect
   • carry out a task
   • execute the decision of the people
   • He actioned the operation
6. murder in a planned fashion
   • The Mafioso who collaborated with the police was executed
7. kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
   • In some states, criminals are executed