as in standing
rising straight up
a lone tree remained erect after the terrible tornado had passed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to raise
to fix in an upright position
the tribes of the Pacific Northwest erected totem poles in front of their dwellings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials
we'd better erect some sort of shelter before these woods are in total darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of erect
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
In the etching, the nun can be seen seated with her legs open while the three clergymen hold up their robes, revealing their erect penises.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
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
Adjective
Plants add stunning texture and shining color to the garden with metallic, lavender-blue bracts surrounding flowers that stand erect on purple stems.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
In the etching, the nun can be seen seated with her legs open while the three clergymen hold up their robes, revealing their erect penises.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 June 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erect
Adjective
-
Her son, Pax, 21, joined the audience in giving her a standing ovation following the film’s premiere.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And scores of the world’s top auteurs came to compete with strong new titles — many of them instant Oscar contenders the moment the customary standing ovations wound down each night inside Venice’s Sala Grande cinema.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deal, brokered after a standoff between state and county officials resulting from a disagreement over whether to raise assessments this year, means homeowners will see a nearly 7% increase above their 2024 property valuation.—
Madeline King,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The Bundy family said information about the object removed from Ryan Bundy’s arm could raise more questions in the incident.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The 35-year-old founder has built a remarkably high-earning captive agency, all while staying within the corporate framework that others rush to leave.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But his focus, as ever, was on building a movement that could endure for years to come.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This First House will have a focus on affordable homes and projects and episodes will feature more tech-centric visuals including Instagram reels and TikTok-style content as well as vertical videos and video conferencing.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Goat Springs is nestled in a clump of piñons between the rolling mass of Goat Mountain and the seemingly vertical face of Bennett Mountain.—
Tim Kelly,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And when Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion on a mission to regain her form of old, had to spin a second serve into the box, Anisimova reared back and nailed them for winners with the authority of someone on a mission.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Under the leadership of DNR nongame biologist Chris Iverson, Indiana started rearing bald eagles at the tower in 1986.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The district plans to begin constructing the canals in 2026, and is looking for a developer to partner in the project, Alanis said.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The building that houses it was constructed in the 1940s; quirky designs abound inside, as do low ceilings and claustrophobic layouts.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Choose an upright cultivar and begin trimming it in early fall into a conical tree.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The Ferryman crams the Warren home with upright coffins filled with his former victims.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Oddsmakers have Josh Allen and the Bills as the most likely to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the new video, Westman, with hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a T-shirt, is seen browsing the firearms and, at one point, even hoisting a rifle and aiming it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Erect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erect. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share