executes

Puts into effect

Executes means carries out or puts into effect.

A manager executes a plan, a musician executes a difficult passage, software executes code.

In law, to execute a document is to sign it formally: She executed the will in front of witnesses.

The grimmer sense is to put someone to death as legal punishment: The state executed the prisoner at dawn.

To execute can also mean to perform skillfully: He executed a perfect dive.

legal

death penalty

Legal execution for crimes

capital punishmentExecution by legal authority
lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
electric chairElectrocution execution device

firing squad · gallows · guillotine · condemned · death row · scaffold · hangman · beheading · sentence · conviction

performs

accomplishes

Completes a goal successfully

achievesSucceeds in doing
carries outCompletes an assigned task
deliversTransports to recipient

fulfills · completes · enacts · implements · conducts · realizes · discharges · effects · administers · operates

computing

runs

Moves fast on foot

processesSeries of actions
launchesSends off forcefully
compilesGathers and arranges material

runtime · debugs · script · program · binary · command · thread · application · batch · instruction

Categories

taking actionacts, moves, responds, take action, go for it
takes chargecontrols, manages, directs, leads, commands

Opposites

action/completion

executesabandons

Ceases to support

neglects · aborts · fails · ignores · disregards

PLANNING vs. DOING

executesplans

Intended courses of action

conceives · designs · theorizes · strategizes · drafts

LIFE/DEATH (capital punishment sense)

executespardons

Official forgiveness of crimes

spares · commutes · reprieve · saves · releases

Phrases

executive jetPrivate aircraft for corporate travel
account executiveClient relationship sales professional
executive decisionChoice made by leadership
executive branchGovernment's implementing arm
executive producerSenior production decision-maker
public executionWitnessed state killing

Family

executive, execution, execute, executed, executives, executing, executor, executioner, executions

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG