# erect

/ɪˈɹɛkt/ (US) · /ɪɹˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/erect
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to build or put up

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to build a building, wall, or other structure.

For teachers: to construct or assemble a vertical structure by fitting parts together. Transitive in this sense.

- The workers began to erect a high fence around the construction site.
- The city council decided to erect a monument in the central plaza to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the town.

### 2. to establish

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to start or create an organization or a system.

For teachers: to set up or establish an institution, system, or legal entity. Used in formal or legal contexts.

- The government plans to erect a new department to handle environmental issues.
- The treaty allowed the member states to erect a common framework for trade and judicial cooperation across the border.

### 3. upright

adjective · CEFR B2

standing straight up and not bending.

For teachers: standing in a vertical or upright position; rigid and firm. Often used in biological or anatomical descriptions.

- The dog stood with its ears erect, listening for any strange noises.
- The soldier maintained an erect posture throughout the long ceremony, despite the heat and the weight of his formal uniform.

## Examples

- The workers will erect a new fence around the garden.
- The city plans to erect a monument in the central square to honor the local poet.
- Engineers were tasked to erect a temporary bridge across the ravine to allow heavy machinery to reach the remote construction site before the rainy season began.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.