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\ i-ˈrekt 
\
\Definition of erect
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
4 : being in a state of physiological erection
erect
verberected; erecting; erects
Definition of erect (Entry 2 of 2)
1a(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
5 : to draw or construct (something, such as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base
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Other Words from erect
Adjective
erectly \ i-ˈrek-(t)lē \ adverb
\ adverberectness \ i-ˈrek(t)-nəs \ noun
\ nounVerb
erectable \ i-ˈrek-tə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjectiveSynonyms & Antonyms for erect
Synonyms: Adjective
Synonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Adjective
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Examples of erect in a Sentence
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective 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.
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Richard A. Marini, ExpressNews.com, "Argentina helping to improve the native Texas mesquite," 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.
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Dan Danbom, The Denver Post, "Don’t blow your nose in a napkin and use the right fork. Whatever happened to manners?," 17 Oct. 2019 Someday, a human-sized version might even be able erect habitats in space.
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Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "This Origami Inspired Claw Will Gently Fold Around Jellyfish," 22 July 2018 This hybrid of two European/Asian species grows to be an almost architectural plant to about 5-feet tall with narrow, erect shape.
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Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "For your Kentucky gardens, ornamental grasses are the way to go," 1 June 2018 The 5-7 Stanhope runs with erect posture and striking fluidity.
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David Woods, Indianapolis Star, "From home-schooled runner to state champ? This Pike half-miler is on track," 15 May 2018 Natalie Mueller is an archaeobotanist at Cornell University who has spent years hunting for erect knotweed across the southern US and up into Ohio and Illinois.
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Annalee Newitz, Ars Technica, "Hunting for the ancient lost farms of North America," 26 Jan. 2018 At up to 12 meters tall, these spindly species were topped by a clump of erect branches vaguely resembling modern palm trees and lived a whopping 393 million to 372 million years ago.
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Giorgia Guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: Yellowstone’s supervolcano, new CRISPR tools, and the odd growth strategy of ancient trees," 27 Oct. 2017 Asian elephants typically show distress with erect tails and flared ears; vocalizations such as trumpeting, rumbling, or roaring; and sudden defecation and urination.
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National Geographic, "Elephants Comfort Comrades During Rescue in China," 7 Nov. 2016 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Security forces erected the barrier to keep the demonstrations from crossing a bridge that leads to the fortified Green Zone, the seat of government and many foreign embassies.
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BostonGlobe.com, "3 protesters dead in clashes over key Baghdad square - The Boston Globe," 16 Nov. 2019 Security forces erected the barrier to keep the protests from crossing a bridge that leads to the fortified Green Zone, the seat of government and many embassies.
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Washington Post, "World Digest: Nov. 15, 2019," 15 Nov. 2019 Students also erected defenses at university campuses, stockpiling homemade weapons.
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Time Staff, Time, "Hong Kong Spirals Into Deepening Crisis as Violent Unrest Enters a Fourth Day," 14 Nov. 2019 Eventually, East Germany erected 27 miles of concrete wall through the city.
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Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Why the Berlin Wall rose—and how it fell," 8 Nov. 2019 But the rescuers erected a large electrical sign to comfort Mr. Harris and Mr. Lofberg through the night, according to news reports at the time.
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Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, "Boat Stuck at Niagara Falls Moves for First Time Since 1918," 5 Nov. 2019 Authorities erected walls of shipping containers, blocked roads leading into and out of the protest area, and deployed riot police and paramilitary forces.
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SFChronicle.com, "News of the Day From Around the World, Nov. 4," 3 Nov. 2019 Security forces on Saturday erected concrete walls on one of Baghdad's main streets which leads into Tahrir Square, but the crowds forced them to take the structures down.
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NBC News, "Iraqis block key roads as violent anti-government protests continue," 3 Nov. 2019 In 2015, Cincinnati Children’s erected a 15-story science tower and now is building a $550 million patient care wing in Avondale.
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Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Bigger, better ER focus of $221 million revamp for University of Cincinnati Medical Center," 29 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for erect
erect
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of erect
(Entry 1 of 2)
: straight up and down
: in a state of erection because of sexual excitement : swollen and stiff
erect
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of erect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to build (something) by putting together materials
: to set or place (something) so that it stands up
See the full definition for erect in the English Language Learners Dictionary
erect
adjective\ i-ˈrekt \
\Kids Definition of erect
(Entry 1 of 2)
: straight up and down
an erect tree The soldiers stood erect.
erect
verberected; erecting
Kids Definition of erect (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to put up by fitting together materials or parts
erect a tent
2 : to set or place straight up
erect a flagpole
erect
adjective\ i-ˈrekt \
\Medical Definition of erect
1 : standing up or out from the body
erect hairs
2 : being in a state of physiological erection
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erect
transitive verbLegal Definition of erect
: 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
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Time Traveler for erect
The first known use of erect was in the 14th century
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