Definition of erect
- an erect plant stem
- columns still erect in the ruins
- erect hairs
- an erect bearing
She sat erect, listening for her name.
a lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'erect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use: 14th century
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same yearThe city erected a statue in his honor.
They erected a marker over the grave.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'erect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
15th century
assemble, build, confect, construct, fabricate, make, make up, piece, put up, raise, rear, set up;
demount, disassemble, dismantle, dismember, knock down, strike, take down, tear down;
demolish, destroy, devastate, flatten, level, pull down, pulverize, raze, ruin, ruinate, shatter, smash, wreck;
carpenter, fashion, forge, frame, hammer, handcraft, manufacture, mold, produce, shape;
begin, coin, create, generate, inaugurate, initiate, innovate, invent, originate;
constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize;
conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up);
reassemble, rebuild, reconstruct, redevelop, retrofit;
put together;
: straight up and down
: in a state of erection because of sexual excitement : swollen and stiff
: to build (something) by putting together materials
: to set or place (something) so that it stands up
See words that rhyme with erect Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for erect Spanish Central: Translation of erect Nglish: Translation of erect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of erect for Arabic speakers
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