Word
execution
Phoneticsex·e·cu·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɛksəkˈjuʃən/
UK/ˌɛksɪkjˈuːʃən/
Definitions
01carrying out a plan
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of doing something that has been planned or designed.
n. the act of performing or carrying out a task, plan, or piece of work to completion.
日本語:実行※
“The idea for the new business was great, but the execution was poor.”
“While the strategic vision was sound, the project failed due to poor execution at the local level.”
Usage
Often used with 'of' to describe the task being completed.
Synonyms
02death penalty
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. the legal killing of someone as a punishment for a crime.
n. the carrying out of a sentence of death on a condemned person.
日本語:処刑※
“The prisoner is facing execution for his crimes.”
“The governor refused to grant a stay of execution despite the emergence of new DNA evidence.”
Usage
Usually uncountable when referring to the concept, but countable when referring to specific events.
Synonyms
03artistic skill
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. the way someone performs a piece of music or creates a work of art.
n. the manner or style in which an artistic work is produced or a technique is applied.
“The pianist's execution of the difficult piece was perfect.”
“Critics praised the painter's technical execution, though they found the subject matter somewhat derivative.”
04computing
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. the process of a computer running a program or following instructions.
n. the process by which a computer or virtual machine carries out the instructions of a computer program.
“The execution of the script took only a few seconds.”
“The software architecture was designed to optimize the execution of parallel threads across multiple processor cores.”
Synonyms
05legal validity
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the act of making a legal document, like a contract, valid by signing it.
n. the formal completion of a legal instrument, such as a contract or will, typically by signing and delivering it.
“We need to witness the execution of the will.”
“The validity of the agreement was challenged on the grounds that the execution of the document was not properly witnessed.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'execution of a contract' or 'execution of a deed'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “execution” in context.
Verb
01. await execution
“The program will remain in the queue while it awaits execution by the processor.”
verb + noun
02. botch the execution
“The strategy was brilliant, but the team managed to botch the execution at the final stage.”
verb + noun
03. stay the execution
“The governor decided to stay the execution after new DNA evidence was presented.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. flawless execution
“The gymnast's flawless execution of the routine earned her a perfect score.”
adj + noun
05. summary execution
“The international community condemned the summary execution of prisoners without trial.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. speed of execution
“In high-frequency trading, the speed of execution is more important than the price itself.”
noun + of + noun
07. warrant for execution
“The judge reluctantly signed the warrant for execution late Friday evening.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
08. in the execution of
“He was injured in the execution of his duties as a police officer.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“Because the men were local, they could have been victims of internal political strife or state-sanctioned executions rather than conflicts with outsiders.” “Cuesta-Rodriguez’s family and friends issued a statement in the wake of his execution, calling his life one of “extraordinary beauty and tenderness within the darkest of conditions”.” Etymology
From Old French execution (c.1360), from Latin exsecutiō, an agent noun from exsequor (“to follow out”), from ex (“out”) + sequor (“follow”). Equivalent to execute + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/execution
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0