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” has 9 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #7,687. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#7,687
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
9
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime.

Corpus desk

Index EN-execute · execute · English

execute · rank #7,687 · 9 variants · 5 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #7,687
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 5 pairs
  • VAR-MID 9 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH feast

Nearest frequency peer: feast (+2 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “execute”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “execute” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

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

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).executelands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “feast” (#7,689), “Ellis” (#7,684), “Finland” (#7,690). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 9 spelling variants around execute (IPA /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #7,687 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how execute appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.
  2. According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war.

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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "execute", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Finland#7,690elegant#7,682denying#7,673cousins#7,669

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (9 here; floor ≥5).

herald9 variantsdoubts9 variantscritic9 variantslocker9 variants

What to do next

You've looked up "execute". Here's where to go from here.

  • "execute" maps to 5 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "executed". View pair
  • 9 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
  • Usage frequency rank #7,687 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "E" letter cohort. E–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

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