execution

noun

ex·​e·​cu·​tion ˌek-si-ˈkyü-shən 

1

: the act or process of executing : performance

put the plan into execution

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

The quarterback's execution of the play was flawless.

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 of execution

• implementation
• fulfillment
• perpetration
• performance
• accomplishment

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

Pike, 50, was set to be the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in over 200 years, with the execution being attempted at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Consistency is another story, which starts with execution and play-calling, Drinkwitz said. — Pj Green october 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Integration initiatives should be governed against the M&A business case to ensure the execution milestones are tracked against the value in the deal thesis, not just deadlines. — Tipu Usha Vaithee Swaran, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

What exactly went wrong in Pike’s case may remain an open question due tolaws shielding information about executions from the public. — Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for execution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution

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