erect

1 of 2

adjective

i-ˈrekt 

1

a

: vertical in position

also : not spread out or decumbent

an erect plant stem

columns still erect in the ruins

b

: standing up or out from the body

erect hairs

c

: characterized by firm or rigid straightness in bodily posture

an erect bearing

2

archaic : directed upward

3

obsolete : alert, watchful

4

: being in a state of physiological erection

erectly

i-ˈrek-(t)lē 

adverb

erectness

i-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun

erect

2 of 2

verb

erected; erecting; erects

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to put up by the fitting together of materials or parts : build

(2)

: to fix in an upright position

(3)

: to cause to stand up or stand out

b

archaic : to direct upward

c

: to change (an image) from an inverted to a normal position

2

: to elevate in status

3

: set up, establish

4

obsolete : encourage, embolden

5

: to draw or construct (something, such as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base

erectable

i-ˈrek-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

Adjective

• perpendicular
• plumb
• raised
• standing
• stand-up
• upright
• upstanding
• vertical

Verb

• pitch
• put up
• raise
• rear
• set up
• upend
• upraise

Example Sentences

Adjective

She sat erect, listening for her name.

a lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed

Verb

The city erected a statue in his honor.

They erected a marker over the grave.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Several of these little women are erect, and others are recumbent; one stands on her head while a few look like they’ve been captured in mid-leap. —Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023

While the posture of some sauropod species might have featured a neck held erect in swanlike fashion, Moore said that biomechanical studies suggested the Mamenchisaurid neck was elevated at an angle of about 20 to 30 degrees above the horizontal. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2023

Coyotes have large, erect ears and long slender legs. —Brandon Livesay, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2023

Their makeup includes abstract graphics painted above and below their eyes, and two of their pink braids stand erect on top of their head, molded into the shape of a heart. —Cassidy George, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2023

The meta-analysis, which complied data from over 75 studies done between 1942 and 2021, gathered measurements of the erect penises of over 55,000 men all over the world. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 17 Feb. 2023

Volunteers prepare the boots by carefully tying each lace and placing an empty water bottle inside each boot to keep it erect. —Fox News, 5 Aug. 2021

These experimental trees — only about 2,000 exist so far — grow erect, spineless and fast, while still being able to survive and thrive the in harsh, semi-arid climate of South Texas. —Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, 22 Oct. 2019

One is correctly seated at the table when the figure is erect but not rigid, not self-consciously tense; feet firmly on the floor; elbows off the table; left hand in the lap when it is not engaged. —Dan Danbom, The Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2019

Verb

Just a mile away is the 17th-century St. Mary’s Tower, one of the defensive structures erected by the Knights of Malta to signal the enemy’s approach with cannon fire – the Comino Channel was a strategic waterway between Malta and Gozo. —Pavlo Fedykovych, CNN, 25 May 2023

The statue, erected in 1869, depicts the first US president on horseback, mounted above a towering granite pedestal. —Kate Armanini, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023

Lawmakers and regulators have spent years erecting laws and rules meant to limit the power and size of the largest U.S. banks. —Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 1 May 2023

Biden’s first invitation for a state visit went to France last year and President Emmanuel Macron was toasted at a black-tie dinner last December with more than 300 guests inside a heated pavilion erected on the south grounds of the White House. —Darlene Superville, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2023

The vote also gives staff the OK to start a separate process for erecting an all-new City Hall on a sixth block, and allocates $2 million in general fund money for consultants. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2023

But, by rights, there should be a statue erected in his honor at every tobacco plantation the length and breadth of the nation. —Nicholas Foulkes, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2023

Business ventures built four modest lodging properties, while 10 area ski clubs secured Forest Service permission to erect cabins. —oregonlive, 7 Apr. 2023

Zeilicovich says the Aruban government has been highly supportive of the Jewish community, even erecting a life-sized bronze statue in 2010 of Anne Frank in Queen Wilhelmina Park in downtown Oranjestad. —Dan Fellner, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin erectus, past participle of erigere to erect, from e- + regere to lead straight, guide — more at right

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing erect

• semi-erect
• re-erect

• semi-erect
• re-erect

Kids Definition

erect

1 of 2 adjective

i-ˈrekt 

1

: straight up and down : upright

an erect pole

erect poplars

2

: straight in posture

sit erect

3

: directed upward : raised

a tree with erect branches

4

: being in a state of physiological erection

erectly

-ˈrek-(t)lē 

adverb

erectness

-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun

erect

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put up or together by fitting together materials : build, assemble

erect a building

erect a playground slide

2

: to set upright

erect a flagpole

3

: to construct (as a perpendicular) on a given base

erector

i-ˈrek-tər

noun

Medical Definition

erect

adjective

i-ˈrekt 

1

: standing up or out from the body

erect hairs

2

: being in a state of physiological erection

Legal Definition

erect

transitive verb

: to give legal existence to by a formal act of authority

no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State

—U.S. Constitution art. IV

erection noun