execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən 

1

: the act or process of executing : performance

2

: a putting to death especially as a legal penalty

3

: the process of enforcing a legal judgment (as against a debtor)

also : a judicial writ directing such enforcement

4

: the act or mode or result of performance

5

archaic : effective or destructive action

his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution

—William Shakespeare

—usually used with do

as soon as day came, we went out to see what execution we had done

—Daniel Defoe

Synonyms

• accomplishment
• achievement
• commission
• discharge
• enactment
• fulfillment
• fulfilment
• implementation
• performance
• perpetration
• prosecution
• pursuance

Examples of execution in a Sentence

He is in prison awaiting execution.

The quarterback's execution of the play was perfect.

skillful execution of the dance steps

Recent Examples on the Web

The second phase revolves around the development and packaging of the participants’ projects by refining their concepts and narratives, while also learning about budgeting and planning for the execution of their projects. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 June 2024

Where Aegon howls with rage, hurls furniture, and accuses his council of negligence (not to mention the execution of every ratcatcher in the Red Keep, congratulations to the rats), Helaena is weeping, silent, secluded. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 June 2024

The execution of Martinez’s message, buoyed by the thin air at Coors Field, Abrams’s return to the lineup following a two-game absence and facing the worst pitching staff in the majors seemed to do the trick. —Spencer Nusbaum, Washington Post, 22 June 2024

But when analyzing the paper on which the letter was written, Glover discovered that the paper’s distinctive watermark was only used in the early 17th century — nearly 70 years after Anne Boleyn's execution — meaning that Anne could not have written the letter. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English execucion, from Anglo-French, from Latin exsecution-, exsecutio, from exsequi to execute, from ex- + sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing execution

• stay of execution

Kids Definition

execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-sə-ˈkyü-shən 

1

: the act or process of executing : a carrying through of something to its finish

put a plan into execution

2

: a putting to death as a legal penalty

3

: the way in which something is executed

Legal Definition

execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən 

1

: the act or process of executing

witnessed the execution of the will

2

: a putting to death as fulfillment of a judicial death sentence

3

: the process of enforcing a judgment (as against a debtor)

also : a judicial writ (as fieri facias) by which an officer is empowered to carry a judgment into effect see also levy