execute ˈɛksɪˌkjut V. [T] 1 <FORMAL> to do something that has been planned or agreed to Franklin is in charge of executing the company’s reorganization plan. 2 <FORMAL> to perform something, especially a difficult action or movement 3 to kill someone, especially legally as a punishment for a serious crime The general was executed for war crimes. 4 <TECHNICAL> if a computer executes a program or a