executed
C1formal, legal, business, military
Definition
Meaning
carried out, performed, or put into effect (as a plan, order, or sentence)
skillfully performed or crafted (as in art or music); legally killed as a punishment; carried through to completion, especially in a technical or formal manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly implies a formal, planned, or official carrying out of an action. In legal contexts, it almost exclusively refers to capital punishment. In business/arts, it denotes skillful completion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Spelling of related words differs: 'executed' remains the same, but 'executioner' is spelled identically.
Connotations
Equally strong legal connotation in both varieties. Slightly more prevalent in American media regarding capital punishment due to its use in certain states.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in formal registers. Slightly higher frequency in American English in news reports discussing the death penalty.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] executed [sth] (e.g., The team executed the plan)[sth] was executed by [sb] (e.g., The order was executed by the sergeant)[sb] was executed for [crime] (e.g., He was executed for treason)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be executed in cold blood”
- “a brilliantly executed play (sports/arts)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the completion of a plan, trade, or contract. 'The merger was flawlessly executed.'
Academic
Used in history (executions), law, and business studies. Discusses implementation of policies or strategies.
Everyday
Most commonly heard in news about capital punishment or in discussions about sports/arts performance.
Technical
In computing: 'The program executed a command.' In law: 'The will was duly executed.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The prisoner was executed at dawn.
- The manager executed the board's directive with efficiency.
- The pianist executed the complex sonata flawlessly.
American English
- The state executed the convict by lethal injection.
- The CEO executed the buyout strategy perfectly.
- The quarterback executed the trick play for a touchdown.
adverb
British English
- N/A (rare to non-standard). The form 'executingly' is virtually never used.
American English
- N/A (rare to non-standard).
adjective
British English
- The executed prisoner's case sparked debate.
- It was a beautifully executed piece of craftsmanship.
American English
- The executed contract is now binding.
- Her executed turn in the ballet was breathtaking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The chef executed the recipe perfectly.
- The king's order was executed.
- The company executed its annual plan successfully.
- The soldier executed the command without question.
- Despite the risks, the military operation was executed with pinpoint accuracy.
- The artist's vision was brilliantly executed in the final sculpture.
- The complex financial manoeuvre was deftly executed, securing the firm's stability.
- Having been found guilty of war crimes, the general was summarily executed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an EXECutive who has DUTies to perform. EXECUTED = EXEC (like executive) + UTED (sounds like 'you-ted' or 'duty') → an executive carried out a duty.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A TRANSACTION (the sentence is 'carried out'); AN ACTION IS A JOURNEY (the plan was 'executed' to its endpoint); PERFORMANCE IS EXECUTION (a dance was 'executed' perfectly).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'исполнительный' (which is 'executive' as an adjective). 'Executed' as a verb is 'приведенный в исполнение' (plan) or 'казненный' (person).
- Avoid using 'экзекуция' as a direct translation; it's a heavy, archaic term in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as /ɪɡˈzɛkjuːtɪd/ (the stress is on the first syllable).
- Using 'executed' for a person in a non-legal context (e.g., 'He was executed from his job' is wrong; use 'fired' or 'dismissed').
- Confusing 'executed' (past tense) with 'executive' (noun/adjective).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'executed' NOT typically imply skill or formal completion?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most dramatic use is for capital punishment, it is widely used in business, law, arts, and computing to mean 'carried out skillfully or formally'.
'Executed' often implies a more formal, planned, or technical carrying out, sometimes under instruction. 'Performed' is broader and can be more general or related to entertainment.
Absolutely. In contexts like business, sports, or arts (e.g., 'a perfectly executed plan/dance/move'), it is strongly positive, praising precise and effective completion.
The key noun is 'execution', which covers all meanings (the act of executing a plan, a legal execution, or the technical execution of a task).