Erect Meaning
/ɪˈɹɛkt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjUpright; vertical or reaching broadly upwards.
adjRigid, firm; standing out perpendicularly, especially as the result of stimulation.
Sentence Examples
Ned held the flag erect.
He held the flag erect.
Nobody intends to erect a wall.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The construction crew will ____ a new skyscraper in the downtown area.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The worker used a crane to ____ the steel beams for the new bridge.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English erect, a borrowing from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”), from ē- (“out”) + regō (“to direct, keep straight, guide”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still erect—a column in a scene of ruins."
— 1788, Edward Gibbon, chapter LXIV, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC:
"But who is he, by years / Bowed, but erect in heart?"
— 1827, [John Keble], The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC:
"His piercing Eyes, erect, appear to vievv / Superior VVorlds, and look all Nature thro'."
— 1715, [Alexander] Pope, The Temple of Fame: A Vision, London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 23:
"vigilant and erect attention of mind"
— [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
"that didst his state above his hopes erect"
— 1595, Samuel Daniel, “(please specify the folio number)”, in The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, London: […] P[eter] Short for Simon Waterson, →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The construction crew will ____ a new skyscraper in the downtown area.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The worker used a crane to ____ the steel beams for the new bridge.