erect

American  

[ih-rekt] / ɪˈrɛkt /

adjective

1. upright in position or posture.

   to stand or sit erect.

   Synonyms:

   vertical, standing

2. raised or directed upward.

   a dog with ears erect.

3. Botany. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined.

   an erect stem;

   an erect leaf or ovule.

4. Heraldry.

   1. (of a charge) represented vertically, following the line of a pale.

      a sword erect.

   2. (of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright.

      a boar's head erect.

5. Optics. (of an image) having the same position as the object; not inverted.

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verb (used with object)

erects, present (3rd person singular) erected, past participle, past erecting present participle

1. to build; construct; raise.

   to erect a house.

   Synonyms:

   upraise, upend, set up, put up

2. to raise and set in an upright or vertical position.

   to erect a telegraph pole.

3. to set up or establish, as an institution; found.

4. to bring about; cause to come into existence.

   to erect barriers to progress.

5. Geometry. to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.

6. to form or create legally (usually followed byinto ).

   to erect a territory into a state.

7. Optics. to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.

8. Machinery. to assemble; make ready for use.

verb (used without object)

erects, present (3rd person singular) erected, past participle, past erecting present participle

1. to become erect; stand up or out.

erect British  

/ ɪˈrɛkt /

adjective

1. upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning

   an erect stance

2. (of an optical image) having the same orientation as the object; not inverted

3. physiol (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement

4. (of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise

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verb

1. to put up; construct; build

2. to raise to an upright position; lift up

   to erect a flagpole

3. to found or form; set up

4. (also intr) physiol to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood

5. to hold up as an ideal; exalt

6. optics to change (an inverted image) to an upright position

7. to draw or construct (a line, figure, etc) on a given line or figure, esp at right angles to it

Synonym Usage

See upright.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• semierect
  adjective
• unerect
  adjective
• preerect
  verb (used with object)
• reerect
  verb (used with object)
• erectly
  adverb
• semierectness
  noun
• suberect
  adjective
• erectness
  noun
• suberectness
  noun
• semierectly
  adverb
• suberectly
  adverb
• erectable
  adjective
• nonerecting
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has erected
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have erected
  perfect
• are erecting
  progressive
• am erecting
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been erecting
  perfect progressive
• has been erecting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is erecting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• erecting
  participle
• erects
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had erected
  perfect
• was erecting
  progressive singular
• had been erecting
  perfect progressive
• were erecting
  progressive plural
• erected
  participle
• erected
  simple

Future

• will erect
  simple
• will have erected
  perfect
• will be erecting
  progressive
• will have been erecting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of erect

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ērēctus “raised up” (past participle of ērigere ), equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + reg- “guide, direct” ( see royal) + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

Erect means "build" or "upright." If you erect a house, you build it. If you stand erect, you hold your body as tall as possible. Erect comes from the Latin word erectus, meaning “upright, elevated, lofty” or “eager, alert, aroused.” Erect is a verb, as in, it will take you years to erect your replica of the Eiffel Tower using only gum and toothpicks. Erect is also an adjective, as in something that is tall, firm, straight or rigid, like a half-dead plant that becomes more erect when you water it.

Example Sentences

So local officials are weighing a developer’s pitch to erect a “temporary workforce housing complex” for as many as 5,600 laborers and tradespeople.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Some also attempted to erect a barricade with rental bikes which was cleared by police.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

If Hearts do win this title, they'll have to erect a statue to the captain - not that he would need a landmark for people to remember his leadership and his goals.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

That same month, she pushed to erect a statue of him at the Capitol building in San Juan alongside other presidents who’ve visited the island.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

His tall figure sprang erect again with a start: he said nothing.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• assemble
• construct
• create
• found
• hoist
• initiate
• mount
• organize
• put up
• raise
• set up
• stand