execution
Pluralexecutions
- 1The killing of a person as a legal punishment.
The execution took place at dawn inside the prison walls.
Crowds once gathered in the square to watch a public execution.
Similarkilling
Note
- 2The way a task, move, or performance is actually carried out.
Like cooking a meal well, not just having the recipe.
Her dance routine had nearly perfect execution.
The plan was good, but the execution was poor.
Similarperformance, implementation, technique, delivery
Note
- 3The act of signing a contract to make it valid and final.
Like signing your name to make a promise official.
The execution of the lease happened in the lawyer's office.
Both partners were present for the execution of the agreement.
Similarsigning, completion, validation
Note
- 4The act of carrying out a court's decision or a person's will.
Like following through on a decision after it has been made.
The execution of the judge's order returned the land to its owner.
After his death, the execution of the will took several months.
Similarenforcement, administration, implementation
Note
- 5The process of a computer carrying out the steps in a program.
Like a cook following a recipe one step at a time.
The execution of the program stopped when it hit an error.
Faster chips speed up the execution of each command.
Similarrunning, processing
Note
- 6The state of being finished or fully carried out.
After months of planning, the project finally reached execution.
The idea stayed on paper and never came to execution.
Similarcompletion, fulfillment, realization, accomplishment, implementation
Less common meaning
- 7The taking of someone's goods or property when they fail to pay a debt.
Like having your things taken away because you didn't pay back money you owed.
The court ordered execution against the merchant's goods to settle the debt.
There are two executions in the house, one for sixteen hundred, the other for two thousand three hundred pounds.
1792, Charlotte Smith, DesmondHere, executions means legal orders to take goods from someone who owes money.Note
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of execution apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Latin exsequor, meaning "to follow out," made from ex ("out") and sequor ("follow"). It came into English through Old French.