erect

1 of 2

adjective

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 adverb
erectness 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
4
obsolete : encourage, embolden
5
: to draw or construct (something, such as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base
erectable adjective

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
On the fateful day that inbound Soviet bombers filled the skies above America with godless communism, the horizontal Bomarc missiles would literally become erect, and fire vertically. Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025 The name of Fort Benning, for example, was suggested by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, an organization that sought to rewrite history textbooks and erect monuments that honored the Confederacy and downplayed slavery's centrality to the Civil War. Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Verb
Ahead of its release, Justin also shared images and videos on Instagram featuring billboards with the pink album cover in cities such as London and Paris, along with a clip of a series of billboards being erected outside Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025 In 2004, Chicago officials proclaimed the corner of Foster and Kedzie avenues in the North Park neighborhood as Kun Chae Bae Way, but Bae declined to allow the sign to be erected. Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for erect

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)

Time Traveler
The first known use of erect was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Erect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erect. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

erect

1 of 2 adjective
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 adverb
erectness 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
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 StateU.S. Constitution art. IV
erection noun

More from Merriam-Webster on erect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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