Meaning of execute in English

Table of contents

Verb
execute
Etymology
late Middle English: from Old French executer, from medieval Latin executare, from Latin exsequi‘follow up, punish’, from ex-‘out’ + sequi‘follow’
Definitions
1. kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment
Examples
- « In some states, criminals are executed »
Derived terms
2. murder execution-style
Examples
- « The Mafioso who collaborated with the police was executed »
Derived terms
3. put in effect
Examples
- « carry out a task »
- « execute the decision of the people »
- « He actioned the operation »
Derived terms
4. carry out the legalities of
Examples
- « execute a will or a deed »
Derived terms
5. carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine
Examples
- « Run the dishwasher »
- « run a new program on the Mac »
- « the computer executed the instruction »
6. carry out or perform an action
Examples
- « John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters »
- « the skater executed a triple pirouette »
- « she did a little dance »
Derived terms
7. sign in the presence of witnesses
Examples
- « The President executed the treaty »

Famous quotes

« The way life manages information involves a logical structure that differs fundamentally from mere complex chemistry. Therefore chemistry alone will not explain life's origin, any more than a study of silicon, copper and plastic will explain how a computer can execute a program. »
Paul Davies
« Law without education is a dead letter. With education the needed law follows without effort and, of course, with power to execute itself indeed, it seems to execute itself. »
Rutherford B. Hayes
« I shoot people in a way that makes the audience feel equal to them. And it's hard to express and it's hard to execute but I think it works on every level - the choice of the material the choice of the actor, my relationship with the actor, and so on. »
Michel Gondry
« In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine. »
Ralph Waldo Emerson
« War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. »
Niccolo Machiavelli