erect
verb
erected; erecting; erects
1
a(1)
: to put up by the fitting together of materials or parts : build
erect a stone wall
(2)
: to fix in an upright position
erect a flagpole
(3)
: to cause to stand up or stand out
a peacock erecting its tail
b
archaic
: to direct upward
c
: to change (an image) from an inverted to a normal position
2
: to elevate in status
… the charms of Miss Cecilia Stubbs had erected her into a positive goddess …—
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott5
: to draw or construct (something, such as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base
Examples of erect in a Sentence
The city erected a statue in his honor.
They erected a marker over the grave.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gilkin designed the World Athletes Monument, erected in 1996 in Atlanta, after winning a competition through the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture, of which Cook was a founding trustee.
—Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Late last month, an enormous structure was erected on the South Lawn, towering over the White House mansion behind it, and sparking intrigue on Instagram, X and other social platforms.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Carl Snowden has fought for civil rights and equality in Annapolis and Maryland for decades — and erected memorials to those who helped pave the way.
—Luke Parker, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2026
By the time the early hours of June 20 roll around, there’s a non-zero chance that New Yorkers will be erecting a statue of Karl-Anthony Towns in Union Square and an army of Timothée Chalamet devotees will have seized control of the city’s 789 bridges and tunnels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for erect
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.
Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Late last month, an enormous structure was erected on the South Lawn, towering over the White House mansion behind it, and sparking intrigue on Instagram, X and other social platforms.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Carl Snowden has fought for civil rights and equality in Annapolis and Maryland for decades — and erected memorials to those who helped pave the way.
—Luke Parker, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2026
By the time the early hours of June 20 roll around, there’s a non-zero chance that New Yorkers will be erecting a statue of Karl-Anthony Towns in Union Square and an army of Timothée Chalamet devotees will have seized control of the city’s 789 bridges and tunnels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for erect
Cite this Entry
“Erect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erect. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
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
U.S. Constitution art. IV
erection
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
