erect
Americanadjective
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upright in position or posture.
to stand or sit erect.
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raised or directed upward.
a dog with ears erect.
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Botany. vertical throughout; not spreading or declined.
an erect stem;
an erect leaf or ovule.
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Heraldry.
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(of a charge) represented vertically, following the line of a pale.
a sword erect.
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(of an animal or part of an animal) represented upright.
a boar's head erect.
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Optics. (of an image) having the same position as the object; not inverted.
verb (used with object)
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to erect a house.
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to raise and set in an upright or vertical position.
to erect a telegraph pole.
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to set up or establish, as an institution; found.
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to bring about; cause to come into existence.
to erect barriers to progress.
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Geometry. to draw or construct (a line or figure) upon a given line, base, or the like.
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to form or create legally (usually followed byinto ).
to erect a territory into a state.
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Optics. to change (an inverted image) to the normal position.
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Machinery. to assemble; make ready for use.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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upright in posture or position; not bent or leaning
an erect stance
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(of an optical image) having the same orientation as the object; not inverted
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physiol (of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) firm or rigid after swelling with blood, esp as a result of sexual excitement
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(of plant parts) growing vertically or at right angles to the parts from which they arise
verb
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to put up; construct; build
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to raise to an upright position; lift up
to erect a flagpole
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to found or form; set up
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(also intr) physiol to become or cause to become firm or rigid by filling with blood
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to hold up as an ideal; exalt
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optics to change (an inverted image) to an upright position
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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” ( royal ) + -tus past participle suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’m happy Phillipe is not around to see the digital renderings of what they plan to erect once they demolish the Taix chateau: another condo building with all the charm of a college dorm.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The work to erect the two tallest towers in Beverly Hills started Friday with an overnight continuous pour of 3,800 cubic yards of concrete, the equivalent of 41,000 wheelbarrows-full.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025
His two challengers, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, can still form an alliance and erect a blockade.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025
One added that it at least gave the industry some certainty in a world where a surplus of cheap steel was causing many countries to erect trade barriers to protect their domestic industry.
From BBC • Sep. 16, 2025
His voice was strong and it rang through the church with a power that brought every head erect.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
