Execute vs. Exercise: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
Execute means to carry out a plan, order, or course of action, while exercise refers to engaging in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness.
Key Differences
Execute, in essence, refers to the act of carrying out or performing a task, instruction, or plan, it usually involves implementing predefined sets of actions or processes to accomplish a goal. On the other hand, exercise predominantly refers to the act of engaging in physical activities aimed at maintaining or enhancing one’s health and fitness, it’s associated with a conscious effort to work on one’s physical well-being.
While execute focuses on the implementation of actions or plans, often seen in contexts related to law, computer science, and management, exercise, in contrast, is widely associated with physical activities, workouts, and drills, emphasizing the movement of the body to attain physical well-being.
Execute implies precision, adherence to instructions, and often involves a level of authority or command, it could also relate to the imposition of sentences or laws. Exercise, conversely, is about practicing, training, or undergoing tasks to develop skills or maintain health, and it typically requires repetition, effort, and discipline.
The term execute can also imply the manifestation of skills or artistry, such as executing a painting or a musical piece, signifying the realization of a concept or an idea. Whereas, exercise can also imply the utilization of rights, powers, or faculties, denoting the act of employing one’s capabilities or prerogatives.
In a broader sense, to execute is to bring to fruition, to make something happen according to a plan or a design. To exercise is to employ, to bring into play, it represents action and utilization, be it physical, mental, or legal, highlighting the activeness in deployment and application.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Carry out a plan, order, or course of action.
Engage in physical activity for health.
Context
Law, Computer Science, Management.
Physical Activity, Health, and Fitness.
Nature
Implementation, realization of plans.
Physical effort, utilization of rights.
Focus
Precision, adherence to instructions.
Repetition, discipline, and effort.
Application
Execution of tasks, laws, or artistic works.
Physical workouts, practicing of rights.
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Execute and Exercise Definitions
Execute
Carry out a task or instruction.
The chef executed the recipe flawlessly.
Exercise
Engage in physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness.
She exercises daily to stay fit.
Execute
Perform a piece of music or art.
The musician executed the composition with great emotion.
Exercise
Use or apply a faculty, right, or process.
He exercises his right to vote.
Execute
Implement computer instructions.
The program executes the command promptly.
Exercise
Subject to efforts or exertion.
They exercise horses on the track.
Execute
Put to death as a legal punishment.
The criminal was executed as per the law.
Exercise
Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness
Walks every day for exercise.
Execute
To put into effect; carry out
A government that executes the decisions of the ruling party.
Exercise
A specific activity performed to develop or maintain fitness or a skill
Sit-ups and other exercises.
A piano exercise.
Execute
To perform; do
Execute a U-turn.
Exercise
The active use or application of something
The exercise of good judgment.
Execute
To create (a work of art, for example) in accordance with a prescribed design.
Exercise
The discharge of a duty, function, or office.
Execute
To make valid, as by signing
Execute a deed.
Exercise
An activity having a specified aspect
An undertaking that was an exercise in futility.
Execute
To perform or carry out what is required by
Execute the terms of a will.
Exercise
A military maneuver or training activity.
Execute
To put to death, especially by carrying out a lawful sentence.
Exercise
Exercises A ceremony that includes speeches, presentations, and other activities
Graduation exercises.
Execute
(Computers) To run (a program or instruction).
Exercise
To subject to practice or exertion in order to train, strengthen, or develop
Exercise the back muscles.
Exercise the memory.
Execute
(transitive) To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime. Category:en:Capital punishment
There are certain states where it is lawful to execute prisoners convicted of certain crimes.
According to international treaties, it is illegal to execute prisoners of war.
Exercise
To put through exercises
Exercise a platoon.
Execute
(transitive) To carry out; to put into effect.
Your orders have been executed, sir!
I'll execute your orders as soon as this meeting is adjourned.
Exercise
To make active use of; employ, apply, or exert
Exercise restraint.
Exercise control.
Execute
(transitive) To perform.
To execute a difficult piece of music brilliantly
To execute a turn in ballet
Exercise
To discharge (duties, for example).
Execute
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.
To execute a contract
Exercise
To carry out the functions of
Exercise the role of disciplinarian.
Execute
To start, launch or run
To execute a program
Exercise
To execute the terms of (a stock option, for example).
Execute
To run, usually successfully.
The program executed, but data problems were discovered.
Exercise
To alarm, worry, or anger; upset
An injustice that exercised the whole community.
Execute
To follow out or through to the end; to carry out into complete effect; to complete; to finish; to effect; to perform.
Why delaysHis hand to execute what his decreeFixed on this day?
Exercise
To engage in exercise.
Execute
To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to give validity to, as by signing and perhaps sealing and delivering; as, to execute a deed, lease, mortgage, will, etc.
Exercise
(countable) Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
The teacher told us that the next exercise is to write an essay.
Execute
To give effect to; to do what is provided or required by; to perform the requirements or stipulations of; as, to execute a decree, judgment, writ, or process.
Exercise
Activity intended to improve physical, or sometimes mental, strength and fitness.
Swimming is good exercise.
I like to do my exercises every morning before breakfast.
I do crosswords for mental exercise.
Execute
To infect capital punishment on; to put to death in conformity to a legal sentence; as, to execute a traitor.
Exercise
A setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use.
The law guarantees us the free exercise of our rights.
Execute
To put to death illegally; to kill.
Exercise
The performance of an office, ceremony, or duty.
I assisted the ailing vicar in the exercise of his parish duties.
Execute
To perform, as a piece of music or other feat of skill, whether on an instrument or with the voice, or in any other manner requiring physical activity; as, to execute a difficult part brilliantly; to execute a coup; to execute a double play.
Exercise
(obsolete) That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Execute
To do one's work; to act one's part or purpose.
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop.
To exercise troops or horses;
To exercise one's brain with a puzzle
Execute
To perform musically.
Exercise
(intransitive) To perform physical activity for health or training.
I exercise at the gym every day.
Execute
Kill as a means of socially sanctioned punishment;
In some states, criminals are executed
Exercise
(transitive) To use (a right, an option, etc.); to put into practice.
The tenant exercised his option to renew the tenancy.
She is going to exercise her right to vote.
Execute
Murder execution-style;
The Mafioso who collaborated with the police was executed
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious.
Exercised with pain
Execute
Put in effect;
Carry out a task
Execute the decision of the people
He actioned the operation
Exercise
(obsolete) To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to.
Execute
Carry out the legalities of;
Execute a will or a deed
Exercise
The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
Exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature.
O we will walk this world,Yoked in all exercise of noble end.
Execute
Carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine;
Run the dishwasher
Run a new program on the Mac
The computer executed the instruction
Exercise
Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical, intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue, perfectness, grace, etc.
An exercise of the eyes and memory.
Execute
Carry out or perform an action;
John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters
The skater executed a triple pirouette
She did a little dance
Exercise
Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise on horseback; to exercise on a treadmill or in a gym.
The wise for cure on exercise depend.
Execute
Sign in the presence of witnesses;
The President executed the treaty
Exercise
The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public exercise of their religion.
To draw him from his holy exercise.
Execute
Enforce legally or judicially.
The officer executed the court's order without delay.
Exercise
That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing, training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ends; hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition; arithmetic exercises.
The clumsy exercises of the European tourney.
He seems to have taken a degree, and performed public exercises in Cambridge, in 1565.
Exercise
That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Patience is more oft the exerciseOf saints, the trial of their fortitude.
Exercise
To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence.
Exercise
To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline, and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms; to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
About him exercised heroic gamesThe unarmed youth.
Exercise
To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
Where pain of unextinguishable fireMust exercise us without hope of end.
Exercise
To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to exercise an office.
I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.
Exercise
To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill; to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics; as, to exercise for health or amusement.
I wear my trusty sword,When I do exercise.
Exercise
The activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit;
The doctor recommended regular exercise
He did some exercising
The physical exertion required by his work kept him fit
Exercise
The act of using;
He warned against the use of narcotic drugs
Skilled in the utilization of computers
Exercise
Systematic training by multiple repetitions;
Practice makes perfect
Exercise
A task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding;
You must work the examples at the end of each chapter in the textbook
Exercise
(usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches;
Academic exercises
Exercise
Put to use;
Exert one's power or influence
Exercise
Carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions;
Practice law
Exercise
Give a work-out to;
Some parents exercise their infants
My personal trainer works me hard
Work one's muscles
Exercise
Do physical exercise;
She works out in the gym every day
Exercise
Learn by repetition;
We drilled French verbs every day
Pianists practice scales
Exercise
Carry out a task or activity to develop and maintain skills.
The students exercise problem-solving skills in class.
Exercise
Cause (a part of the body) to work to enhance strength or function.
Swimming exercises the whole body.
FAQs
Can “execute” only refer to carrying out tasks?
No, “execute” can also refer to performing arts, implementing computer instructions, or enforcing laws.
Can execute imply a level of authority?
Yes, executing often involves a level of authority or command, especially in legal contexts.
Can exercise refer to mental activities?
Yes, exercise can involve mental effort, like exercising judgment or choice.
Does exercising always require physical effort?
Mostly, but it can also mean employing rights or faculties, which may not involve physical effort.
Can execution be artistic?
Yes, one can execute a piece of music or art, meaning performing or creating it.
Does executing always involve action?
Yes, executing inherently involves taking action to accomplish something.
Is exercise always beneficial?
Typically, exercise is beneficial for health and well-being, but excessive or improper exercise can be harmful.
Can execution be amended or altered once initiated?
Depending on the context, some executions can be paused or amended, but others, like legal executions, cannot.
Can exercise be a routine?
Yes, many people have exercise routines for consistent physical activity.
Is exercise only related to physical activities?
Predominantly, but it can also refer to the use or application of a right, faculty, or process.
Is execution always planned?
Generally, execution involves carrying out a preconceived plan or order.
Can a plan be executed imperfectly?
Yes, execution of a plan can have varying degrees of success or precision.
Can exercise be involuntary?
Typically, exercise is a voluntary action, but some physiological exercises like breathing can be involuntary.
Can you exercise power?
Yes, exercising power means to use or apply authority or influence.
Is the execution of a task always visible or observable?
Not necessarily, the execution of some tasks, like computer instructions, may not be visibly observable.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
