3 VERB If you excuse someone for something wrong that they have done, you forgive them for it. □ [V n + for ] Many people might have excused them for shirking some of their responsibilities. [Also V n, V n n]
4 VERB [usu passive] If someone is excused from a duty or responsibility, they are told that they do not have to carry it out. □ [be V -ed + from ] She is usually excused from her duties during the school holidays. □ [be V -ed n] She was excused duties on Saturday.
5 VERB If you excuse yourself , you use a phrase such as 'Excuse me' as a polite way of saying that you are about to leave. □ [V pron-refl] He excused himself and went up to his room.
6 CONVENTION You say ' Excuse me ' when you want to politely get someone's attention, especially when you are about to ask them a question. [FORMULAE ] □ Excuse me, but are you Mr Honig?
7 CONVENTION You use excuse me to apologize to someone when you have disturbed or interrupted them. [FORMULAE ] □ Excuse me interrupting, but there's a thing I feel I've got to say.
8 CONVENTION You use excuse me or a phrase such as if you'll excuse me as a polite way of indicating that you are about to leave or that you are about to stop talking to someone. [POLITENESS ] □ 'Excuse me,' she said to Jarvis, and left the room. □ Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.
9 CONVENTION You use excuse me, but to indicate that you are about to disagree with someone. [mainly BRIT ] □ Excuse me, but I want to know what all this has to do with us.
10 CONVENTION You say excuse me to apologize when you have bumped into someone, or when you need to move past someone in a crowd. [FORMULAE ]
11 CONVENTION You say excuse me to apologize when you have done something slightly embarrassing or impolite, such as burping, hiccupping, or sneezing. [FORMULAE ]
12 CONVENTION You say ' Excuse me? ' to show that you want someone to repeat what they have just said. [AM , FORMULAE ] in BRIT, usually use pardon , sorry USAGE excuse
You say that someone makes
an excuse. Don’t say ‘
e x-dire ctory ADJ If a person or their phone number is ex-directory , the number is not listed in the telephone directory, and the phone company will not give it to people who ask for it. [BRIT ] in AM, use unlisted
exec / I gze k/ (execs ) N‑COUNT Exec is an abbreviation for executive .
ex|ecrable /e ks I krəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as execrable , you mean that it is very bad or unpleasant. [FORMAL ] □ Accusing us of being disloyal to cover his own sorry behavior is truly execrable. □ …an execrable meal.
ex|ecute ◆◇◇ /e ks I kjuːt/ (executes , executing , executed )
1 VERB To execute someone means to kill them as a punishment for a serious crime. □ [be V -ed] He was executed by lethal injection earlier today. □ [V n] One group claimed to have executed the American hostage. □ [be V -ed + for ] This boy's father had been executed for conspiring against the throne. ● ex|ecu|tion /e ks I kjuː ʃ ə n/ (executions ) N‑VAR □ Execution by lethal injection is scheduled for July 30th.
2 VERB If you execute a plan, you carry it out. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] We are going to execute our campaign plan to the letter. ● ex|ecu|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] U.S. forces are fully prepared for the execution of any action once the order is given by the president.
3 VERB If you execute a difficult action or movement, you successfully perform it. □ [be V -ed] The landing was skilfully executed.
4 VERB When someone executes a work of art, they make or produce it, using an idea as a basis. □ [V n] Morris executed a suite of twelve drawings in 1978. □ [V -ed] A well-executed shot of a tall ship is a joy to behold. ● ex|ecu|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ The ideas in the show's presentation were good, but failed in execution.
ex|ecu|tion|er /e ks I kjuː ʃənə r / (executioners ) N‑COUNT An executioner is a person who has the job of executing criminals.
ex|ecu|tive ◆◆◇ / I gze kjʊt I v/ (executives )
1 N‑COUNT An executive is someone who is employed by a business at a senior level. Executives decide what the business should do, and ensure that it is done. □ …an advertising executive. □ She is a senior bank executive.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The executive sections and tasks of an organization are concerned with the making of decisions and with ensuring that decisions are carried out. □ A successful job search needs to be as well organised as any other executive task. □ I will not take an executive role, but rather become a consultant.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Executive goods are expensive goods designed or intended for executives and other people at a similar social or economic level. □ …an executive briefcase. □ …executive cars.
4 N‑SING [N n] The executive committee or board of an organization is a committee within that organization which has the authority to make decisions and ensures that these decisions are carried out. □ He sits on the executive committee that manages Lloyds. □ [+of ] …the executive of the National Union of Students.
5 N‑SING [oft N n] The executive is the part of the government of a country that is concerned with carrying out decisions or orders, as opposed to the part that makes laws or the part that deals with criminals. □ The government, the executive and the judiciary are supposed to be separate. □ The matter should be resolved by the executive branch of government. SYNONYMS executive NOUN 1