From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor, from ex- ("out") + sequor ("to follow").

• IPA: /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/

execute (executes, present participle executing; simple past and past participle executed)

1. (transitive) To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.

   Coordinate term: murder

   There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.

   According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war.

   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene iv], page 104 ↗, column 1:

     Was not thy Father, Richard, Earle of Cambridge, / For Treaſon executed in our late Kings dayes?

2. (transitive) To carry out; to put into effect.

   Your orders have been executed, sir!

   I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:

     Why delays / His hand to execute what his decree / Fixed on this day?

3. (transitive) To perform.

   to execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly

   to execute a turn in ballet

4. (transitive, law) To carry out, to perform an act; to put into effect or cause to become legally binding or valid (as a contract) by so doing.

   to execute a contract

5. (transitive, computing) To start, launch or run.

   Synonyms: start, launch, run, open

   to execute a program

6. (intransitive, computing) To run, usually successfully.

   The program executed, but data problems were discovered.

• French: exécuter, mettre à mort
• German: hinrichten
• Italian: giustiziare
• Portuguese: executar
• Russian: казни́ть
• Spanish: ejecutar, ajusticiar

• French: exécuter
• German: ausführen, durchführen
• Portuguese: executar
• Russian: исполня́ть
• Spanish: ejecutar

• Russian: выполня́ть

• French: exécuter
• German: ausführen
• Italian: lanciare
• Portuguese: executar, rodar
• Russian: прогоня́ть
• Spanish: ejecutar, arrancar

• Russian: подпи́сывать