Meaning & use
execute
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To carry out a plan, task or order.
Grammar: Takes an object.
Patterns
- execute a plan
The team executed the plan perfectly.
She executed a difficult dive.
Soldiers executed the order.
verbtransitivelegal
To put someone to death as a legal punishment.
Grammar: Often passive.
Patterns
- be executed for something
The prisoner was executed at dawn.
Many were executed for treason.
verbtransitivecomputing
To run a computer program or command.
Grammar: Computing.
Patterns
- execute a command
The computer executes each instruction.
Execute the script.
verbtransitivelegal
To make a legal document valid by signing it.
Grammar: Legal.
Patterns
- execute a will
She executed her will with witnesses.
The contract was executed in May.
Word forms
| third person singular | executes |
|---|---|
| past tense | executed |
| past participle | executed |
| -ing form | executing |
Common combinations
- execute a plan
- Execute the plan carefully.
- execute a command
- Execute the command.
- execute a will
- Execute a will before witnesses.
- flawlessly executed
- A flawlessly executed move.
Synonyms and how they differ
- carry out
- Plain and common.
- perform
- Often an act or show.
- implement
- Put into use, for plans or systems.
- run
- Computing.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: execute or executive?
execute vs executive
An executive is a manager; execute is the action.
Practice
The engineers will ___ the new software update tonight.
Choose one answer.
Execute means carry out or run. The others do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “execute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.