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Definition of execute verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

execute

verb
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːt/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they execute
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːt/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːt/
he / she / it executes
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːts/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːts/
past simple executed
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪd/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪd/
past participle executed
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪd/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪd/
-ing form executing
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪŋ/
 
/ˈeksɪkjuːtɪŋ/
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  1. [usually passive] to kill somebody, especially as a legal punishment
    • be executed (for something) He was executed for treason.
    • be executed by something The prisoners were executed by firing squad.
    Extra Examples
    • innocent people who are wrongly executed
    • He was ultimately executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.
    Topics War and conflictc1, Crime and punishmentc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • summarily
    • illegally
    • publicly
    preposition
    • as
    • for
    See full entry
  2. execute something (formal) to do a piece of work, perform a duty, put a plan into action, etc.
    • They drew up and executed a plan to reduce fuel consumption.
    • The crime was very cleverly executed.
    • Check that the computer has executed your commands.
    Extra Examples
    • I swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States.
    • a carefully executed and well-presented study
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • beautifully
    • boldly
    • brilliantly
    phrases
    • duly executed
    See full entry
  3. execute something (formal) to successfully perform an action or movement that requires skill
    • The pilot executed a perfect landing.
    Extra Examples
    • The movement was beautifully executed.
    • The second goal was superbly executed.
    • The album contains beautifully executed songs such as ‘Can't Explain’.
    • The show was cleverly conceived and splendidly executed.
    • a series of perfectly executed pirouettes
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • beautifully
    • boldly
    • brilliantly
    phrases
    • duly executed
    See full entry
  4. execute something (formal) to make or produce a work of art
    • Picasso also executed several landscapes at Horta de San Juan.
    Topics Artc2
  5. execute something (law) to follow the instructions in a legal document; to make a document legally acceptable
    • His will was executed by his lawyers in 2008.
    • The agreement had been duly executed.
  6. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French executer, from medieval Latin executare, from Latin exsequi ‘follow up, punish’, from ex- ‘out’ + sequi ‘follow’.
See execute in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee execute in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
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