erect

/əˈrɛkt/
/ɛˈrɛkt/
IPA guide

Other forms: erected; erecting; erects

Erect means "build" or "upright." If you erect a house, you build it. If you stand erect, you hold your body as tall as possible.

Erect comes from the Latin word erectus, meaning “upright, elevated, lofty” or “eager, alert, aroused.” Erect is a verb, as in, it will take you years to erect your replica of the Eiffel Tower using only gum and toothpicks. Erect is also an adjective, as in something that is tall, firm, straight or rigid, like a half-dead plant that becomes more erect when you water it.

Definitions of erect
  1. adjective
    upright in position or posture
    “an erect stature”
    “erect flower stalks”
    “for a dog, an erect tail indicates aggression”
    synonyms: upright, vertical
    erectile
    capable of being raised to an upright position
    fastigiate
    having clusters of erect branches (often appearing to form a single column)
    orthostatic
    pertaining to an upright standing posture
    passant
    in walking position with right foreleg raised
    rampant, rearing
    rearing on left hind leg with forelegs elevated and head usually in profile
    semi-climbing
    of plants that are semi-climbers
    semi-erect
    of plants that are partly erect
    semi-upright
    of animals that are partly erect
    standing
    having a supporting base
    stand-up
    requiring a standing position
    statant
    standing on four feet
    straight, unbent, unbowed
    erect in posture
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    unerect
    not upright in position or posture
    accumbent, decumbent, recumbent
    lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
    bended, bent
    used of the back and knees; stooped
    cernuous, drooping, nodding, pendulous, weeping
    having branches or flower heads that bend downward
    couchant
    lying on the stomach with head raised with legs pointed forward
    dormant, sleeping
    (heraldry) lying with head on paws as if sleeping
    flat, prostrate, repent
    stretched out and lying at full length along the ground
    crooked, hunched, round-backed, round-shouldered, stooped, stooping
    having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
    procumbent
    having stems that trail along the ground without putting down roots
    prone, prostrate
    lying face downward
    semi-prostrate
    imperfectly prostrate; prostrate for part of its length
    resupine, supine
    lying face upward
    show more antonyms...
  2. verb
    construct, build, or erect
    synonyms: put up, raise, rear, set up
    see moresee less
    type of:
    build, construct, make
    make by combining materials and parts
  3. verb
    cause to rise up
    synonyms: rear
    see moresee less
    types:
    pitch, set up
    erect and fasten
    cock up, prick, prick up
    raise
    camp, camp down
    establish or set up a camp
    type of:
    bring up, elevate, get up, lift, raise
    raise from a lower to a higher position
  4. adjective
    of sexual organs; stiff and rigid
    synonyms:
    hard
    resisting weight or pressure
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘erect'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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