adjective B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

erect

ih-REHKT

Erect (adjective) means standing straight up; upright rather than leaning or bent over. Example: “The soldier stood perfectly erect during the inspection.”

adjective

Standing straight up; upright rather than leaning or bent over.

"The soldier stood perfectly erect during the inspection."

"The plant grows tall with an erect stem."

Of a penis or clitoris: stiff and swollen with blood, as a result of sexual arousal.

"The medical leaflet explained the causes of an erect penis."

verb

To build or put up (a structure), typically by fitting the parts together.

"Workers erected the scaffolding overnight."

"A statue was erected in the town square to honour the mayor."

To set something upright, or establish something such as an organization or system.

"The committee was erected to oversee the new regulations."

How to use erect

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStanding straight upward — used for posture and physical structures, and, in its other common sense, for sexual arousal.

Common pairings

erect posture erect a building erect a fence stand erect

Word forms

more erect comparative, erected past tense, erects singular, most erect superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The soldier stood perfectly _____ during the inspection.

Etymology

From Latin erectus, "raised up," the past participle of erigere — from e- ("out") plus regere ("to direct, keep straight").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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build

Antonyms

flaccid

Related words

make body figure create build produce progress soft

Frequently asked questions

What does “erect” mean?

The word “erect” means standing straight up; upright rather than leaning or bent over.

How do you pronounce “erect”?

“Erect” is pronounced ih-REHKT (/ɪˈɹɛkt/ in IPA).

How do you use “erect” in a sentence?

Here is “erect” used in a sentence: “The soldier stood perfectly erect during the inspection.”

What is another word for “erect”?

Words with a similar meaning to “erect” include build.

What is the opposite of “erect”?

The opposite of “erect” — its antonyms — is flaccid.

What part of speech is “erect”?

Depending on how it is used, “erect” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “erect” come from?

The word “erect” comes from Latin. From Latin erectus, "raised up," the past participle of erigere — from e- ("out") plus regere ("to direct, keep straight").

Is “erect” a common word?

“Erect” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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