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
4
: being in a state of physiological erection
erected; erecting; erects
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
5
: to draw or construct (something, such as a perpendicular or figure) upon a given base
Synonyms
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
Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, when Jim visited Lou at home, Peter recalled, Lou walked over to his front door, using a cane — then put it aside, stood erect, threw his shoulders back and opened the door.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Suddenly the once-content birds snapped their heads erect and, as if someone sounded an alert, the birds flushed almost in unison and sailed far overhead and across a broad valley.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
Indeed, for literally thousands of years, Ptah has been depicted — often in gold — as a sleek figure, standing erect (perhaps even mummified, but for its arms and face) and holding in front of him, right hand over left, a staff.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
These findings add further evidence to the emerging scientific consensus, but Wiseman cautioned that this is not definitive proof that Lucy could walk erect frequently and efficiently.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 June 2023
One parent reported a photo of erect male genitalia sent in a direct message.
—Michael H. Keller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024
As Enzo, Driver is trim and erect, moving with an elegant sense of swing that Mann matches with a curvaceously mobile camera tracing brisk, suave arcs around him.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024
There is a residual tension in early representations of Ardhanarishvara, where Shiva is shown with an erect phallus, suggesting that the figure itself is still straining against resolution, striving for the division that creates desire and regeneration.
—Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
The building was erected in the 1620s by King Christian IV and is located next to the Danish Parliament.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
Bleachers are expected to be erected in a parking lot overlooking the practice field to accommodate fans.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
There, a group of conservationists from Tamandua Expeditions planned to erect the highest tree house in the Amazon.
—Allison Keeley, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
Based on investigations into previous scaffolding collapses, workplace safety inspectors may be examining whether scaffolding at the Charlotte site was erected properly and whether it was overloaded.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
To remedy this, the Greek government embarked on excavations and a building program, erecting grandiose public edifices, museums and a university in the neoclassical style.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Many students had been camping there since the wall was erected in late March, but according to Eve Oishi, a professor of cultural studies at Claremont Graduate University, had packed up and disassembled their encampment.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The Breakers: The grand Breakers, erected in the late 19th century, occupies 140 acres of coastline.
—Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
In contrast, whitetail ears are sleek, a bit pointy-looking and typically held more erect.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Apr. 2024
Last year, when Jim visited Lou at home, Peter recalled, Lou walked over to his front door, using a cane — then put it aside, stood erect, threw his shoulders back and opened the door.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Suddenly the once-content birds snapped their heads erect and, as if someone sounded an alert, the birds flushed almost in unison and sailed far overhead and across a broad valley.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
Indeed, for literally thousands of years, Ptah has been depicted — often in gold — as a sleek figure, standing erect (perhaps even mummified, but for its arms and face) and holding in front of him, right hand over left, a staff.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
These findings add further evidence to the emerging scientific consensus, but Wiseman cautioned that this is not definitive proof that Lucy could walk erect frequently and efficiently.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 June 2023
One parent reported a photo of erect male genitalia sent in a direct message.
—Michael H. Keller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024
As Enzo, Driver is trim and erect, moving with an elegant sense of swing that Mann matches with a curvaceously mobile camera tracing brisk, suave arcs around him.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024
There is a residual tension in early representations of Ardhanarishvara, where Shiva is shown with an erect phallus, suggesting that the figure itself is still straining against resolution, striving for the division that creates desire and regeneration.
—Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
Any correction or offer of help threatened the seamless barrier of narrative that his mind had erected around his increasingly fragmented self.
—Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
The building was erected in the 1620s by King Christian IV and is located next to the Danish Parliament.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2024
Bleachers are expected to be erected in a parking lot overlooking the practice field to accommodate fans.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
There, a group of conservationists from Tamandua Expeditions planned to erect the highest tree house in the Amazon.
—Allison Keeley, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
Based on investigations into previous scaffolding collapses, workplace safety inspectors may be examining whether scaffolding at the Charlotte site was erected properly and whether it was overloaded.
—Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2024
To remedy this, the Greek government embarked on excavations and a building program, erecting grandiose public edifices, museums and a university in the neoclassical style.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Many students had been camping there since the wall was erected in late March, but according to Eve Oishi, a professor of cultural studies at Claremont Graduate University, had packed up and disassembled their encampment.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The Breakers: The grand Breakers, erected in the late 19th century, occupies 140 acres of coastline.
—Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'erect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near erect
Cite this Entry
“Erect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erect. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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
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