erect

1.adjectiveB2

Definition

Describes a person's body position when the spine is held straight and the head is naturally balanced above the shoulders, rather than being bent forward or slouched.

Example

Bilal stood erect at the back of the hall while the national anthem played.

stand erect — formal posture of respect

The elderly woman walked with a cane but kept her back beautifully erect.

Common collocations

stand erect
sit erect
hold oneself erect
remain erect
walk erect

Synonyms

upright
more general and common; 'an upright chair' vs. 'an erect back'
straight
informal and more widely used; 'sit up straight' is the everyday equivalent

Antonyms

slouched
describes a bent, relaxed posture
bent
general opposite of straight

Usage Note

Less common in everyday speech than alternatives such as 'straight' or 'upright'. Most often found in formal descriptions of posture, military contexts, or writing about dance and deportment.

2.adjectiveB2

Definition

Standing or placed in a position that is at a right angle to the ground, without leaning to either side.

Example

The old pillars remained erect after the earthquake destroyed most houses.

remain erect — staying upright despite force

The flagpole stood perfectly erect in the centre of the school courtyard.

stood + erect — describing an object's vertical position

Common collocations

remain erect
stand erect
stand erect
perfectly erect
fully erect

Synonyms

upright
the most common everyday alternative; 'an upright vacuum cleaner'
vertical
more technical, often used in geometry or construction

Antonyms

horizontal
parallel to the ground
leaning
at an angle, not fully vertical

Common Mistakes

The painting on the wall is not erect.

The painting on the wall is not straight/level.

'erect' usually describes solid objects standing on the ground, not things hung on a wall.

3.adjectiveC1

Definition

Of certain body tissues — such as the nipples, hair follicles, or reproductive organs — becoming firmer, larger, and raised from the surrounding surface as a result of muscle contraction or increased blood flow.

Example

The kitten's fur stood erect along its spine when it saw the neighbour's dog.

fur/hair stands erect — piloerection response

Sana noticed her nipples had become erect in the cold wind outside the station.

Common collocations

become erect
stand erect
erect tissue
erect nipple
erect hair

Synonyms

engorged
more clinical, emphasises swelling from blood flow
stiff
informal, used for both posture and physiology
tumescent
highly technical medical term

Antonyms

flaccid
soft and relaxed, the opposite of erect tissue

Usage Note

Describes a physical, anatomical state of certain body tissues, not an emotional one. The most commonly understood association is with penile erection, but the word also applies to nipples (from cold or touch) and hair standing on end (goosebumps). In neutral contexts — such as describing fur or a cold response — the synonym 'stood up' or 'raised' may be clearer to avoid unwanted sexual overtones.

Common Mistakes

He felt erect when he saw her.

He had an erection when he saw her.

'erect' is an adjective describing the tissue, not the person's emotional state.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

To put up a large physical structure — such as a building, wall, monument, or bridge — by assembling its materials and parts in a fixed location.

Example

The council plans to erect a public library on the old market site.

erect + public building — formal equivalent of 'build'

Workers erected a temporary fence around the construction site to keep people out.

Common collocations

erect a building
erect a wall
erect a monument
erect a statue
erect a fence
erect scaffolding
erect a barrier

Synonyms

build
everyday, general term; can be used for anything from a bird's nest to a skyscraper
construct
slightly more formal than 'build', emphasising planning and assembly
put up
informal phrasal verb; 'put up a fence' or 'put up shelves'

Antonyms

demolish
to tear down a structure completely
dismantle
to take something apart piece by piece

Grammar Patterns

erect + noun phrase (structure)

Usage Note

More formal than 'build' and typically used for structures that are fixed in place and noticeably tall or vertical. Use 'build' for ordinary houses, roads, or small items. Do not use 'erect' for abstract things like businesses or systems — use 'establish' or 'set up' instead.

Common Mistakes

The company erected a new branch in Taipei.

The company established a new branch in Taipei.

'erect' is only for physical structures, not organisations.

She erected a Lego tower.

She built a Lego tower.

'erect' sounds too formal for small or toy structures.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

To lift an object from a flat, folded, or angled position into a straight, standing orientation.

Example

The campers erected the tent before the rain started falling.

erect + tent — raising a collapsible structure

It took four people to erect the heavy stage backdrop for the concert.

Common collocations

erect a tent
erect a ladder
erect an easel
erect a flagpole
erect a stage
erect a screen

Synonyms

raise
simpler and more general; 'raise a flag' or 'raise your hand'
set up
informal, very common for tents, easels, ladders
put up
informal; 'put up an umbrella' or 'put up a shelf'

Antonyms

lower
to bring something down from a raised position
lay down
to place something flat on the ground

Grammar Patterns

erect + noun phrase (object to be raised)

Usage Note

Focuses on the action of raising something that was not upright before. Overlaps with verb sense 1 when the object is a collapsible structure (such as a tent or a stage). The difference is that sense 1 emphasises building or assembling, while sense 2 emphasises the motion of lifting into a vertical position.

Word family

erection
nounC1
erectly
adverbC1
erectile
adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Of these four, 'build' is the most general and everyday word — you can build anything from a sandcastle to a skyscraper. 'Construct' is more formal and emphasises careful planning and assembly; it is common in engineering and technical writing. 'Put up' is the informal phrasal verb used in casual speech, especially for smaller or temporary structures like shelves, fences, or tents. 'Erect' sits between 'construct' and 'put up' in formality: it is distinctly formal but not technical, and it carries the specific implication that the structure goes from lying flat to standing tall. For example, you would 'erect scaffolding' (formal, vertical assembly) but 'put up a picture hook' (informal, simple task). In writing, choose 'build' for neutral contexts, 'erect' when you want a more elevated tone, and 'put up' in conversation.

build ↗construct ↗erect ↗put up ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

stand erect
hold oneself erect
remain erect
sit erect

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Latin verb 'erigere', meaning 'to set up' or 'to raise', which is formed from 'e-' (meaning 'out, up') and 'regere' (meaning 'to direct, guide, keep straight'). It entered English through Old French in the late 15th century, first as a verb meaning 'to set upright', and later developed the adjective sense describing something already standing straight.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

erect

erect — adjective

1. Describes a person's body position when the spine is held straight and the head

Usage Note

2. Standing or placed in a position that is at a right angle to the ground, without

Common Mistakes

3. Of certain body tissues — such as the nipples, hair follicles, or reproductive o

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

erect — verb

1. To put up a large physical structure — such as a building, wall, monument, or br

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. To lift an object from a flat, folded, or angled position into a straight, stand

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near