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)

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)

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

Related Words

See upright.

Other Word Forms

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

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

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

Plans to erect a statue in New Zealand symbolising the so-called comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War Two have been rejected.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

The only thing I don’t love about Taix is that its owners are tearing it down to erect soulless condos.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Independent Mid Ulster Councillor, Barry Monteith, has been working with some of the relatives to erect a new plaque near where the Hillcrest Bar was.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Here and there one sat upright on an ant heap and looked about, with ears erect and nose in the wind.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Related Words

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