ENGLISH
REFERENCE

erect

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɪˈɹɛkt// UK //ɪɹˈɛkt// erect Archaic

v. to build or put up a structure like a building, wall, or fence. You use this when talking about construction or setting something upright.

v. to construct or set up a structure; to raise something into a vertical position. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

The workers will erect a new fence around the garden.

CONTEXTUAL

The city plans to erect a monument in the central square to honor the local poet.

COMPLEX

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.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English erecten, from the adjective (see above).

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it is more formal than 'build' or 'put up'.

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