execute

/ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/

//ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"execute" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“execute” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #7,687 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#7,687
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

execute vs executed
88% similar
execute vs executor
75% similar
execute vs executive
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for execute
PropertyValue
Headwordexecute
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#7,687
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “execute” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). execute lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for execute is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/. Corpus data places it at rank #7,687 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for execute, with forms such as "eexcute", "exceute", and "execcute". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "executed", "executor", "executive", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”). The correct English form is execute, spelled E-X-E-C-U-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.
  2. 2
    To carry out; to put into effect.
  3. 3
    To perform.
  4. 4
    To carry out, to perform an act; to put into effect or cause to become legally binding or valid (as a contract) by so doing.
  5. 5
    To start, launch, or run.
  6. 6
    To run, usually successfully.

Etymology

From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”).

Synonyms

performcarry outdo

This word in other languages

ejecutar(Español)exécuter(Français)hinrichten(Deutsch)rodar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eexcute,exceute,execcute,exectue,execuet,executte,exeucte,exxecute,xeecute

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of execute - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

eexcute2exceute2execcute1exectue2execuet2executte1exeucte2exxecute1
Edit distance from "execute"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "execute"?
"execute" is spelled E-X-E-C-U-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/.
What does "execute" mean?
As a verb, "execute" means: To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.
What words are commonly confused with "execute"?
"execute" is commonly confused with "executed", "executor", "executive". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "execute"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "execute" is /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "execute"?
From Old French executer (French exécuter), from Latin exsecutus, past participle of exsequor (“to follow (up/through)”, particularly in the sense “to go through with a deed or punishment”), from ex- (“out”) + sequor (“to follow”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “execute”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-X-E-C-U-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “executed” - see the side-by-side comparison. execute vs executed
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list