Draw Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 6, 2024
Draw means to produce a picture or diagram by making lines and marks on paper with a pen or pencil. e.g., The children were asked to draw their families during art class.
Table of Contents
Draw Definitions
To move something by pulling it along a surface, often the ground.
He had to draw the heavy box across the room.
To cause interest or attention to be directed towards something.
The museum's new exhibit will draw a lot of visitors.
To finish a game or contest with equal scores.
The match ended in a draw, with both teams scoring two goals.
To pick something or someone in a random manner, often from a container.
Names were drawn from a hat to decide the order.
To bring something to an end, especially gradually.
As the evening drew to a close, guests began to leave.
To take liquid from a larger source.
They draw water from the well every morning.
To make a comparison or suggest a similarity.
The author draws a parallel between nature and human emotions.
To pull air, smoke, etc., into the lungs.
He drew a deep breath before diving into the pool.
To provoke or evoke a reaction or answer.
Her comments drew laughter from the audience.
To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag
Drew the chair closer to the table.
A team of horses drawing a wagon.
To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading
The teacher drew the children into the room to see the decorations.
To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something
Draw the curtains.
To cause to flow forth
A pump drawing water.
A blow that drew blood.
To suck or take in (air, for example); inhale.
To require (a specified depth of water) for floating
A boat drawing 18 inches.
To take or pull out
Drew a gun from beneath the counter.
Drew out a fat wallet.
To extract or take for one's own use
Draw strength from one's friends.
To make (tea) by steeping.
To eviscerate; disembowel
A traitor to the king who was drawn and quartered.
To cause to come by attracting; attract
Afraid the casino will draw undesirable elements to the town.
To select or take in from a given group, type, or region
Draw clients from all levels of society.
To bring to a certain condition or action; lead
Drawn to despair.
Drew them to resign.
To bring about deliberately; provoke
Draw enemy fire.
Draw a penalty on an opponent.
To evoke as a response; elicit
A performance that drew jeers from the audience.
To earn; gain
Deposits that draw interest at a rate of 5 percent.
To withdraw (money).
To use (a check, for example) when paying.
To receive on a regular basis or at a specified time
Draw a pension.
To take or receive by chance
Draw lots.
To take (cards) from a dealer or central stack.
To force (a card) to be played.
To end or leave (a contest) tied or undecided.
To hit or strike (a billiard ball, for example) so as to give it backspin.
To hit (a golf ball) with a draw.
To make tense or taut
Drew the rope across the ravine.
To pull back the string of (a bow).
To distort the shape of
He drew his face into a scowl.
To flatten, stretch, or mold (metal) by hammering or die stamping.
To shape or elongate (a wire, for example) by pulling through dies.
To inscribe (a line or lines) with a pencil or other marking implement.
To make a likeness of on a surface, using mostly lines; depict with lines
Drew a map of the area.
Drawing landscapes and still lifes.
To portray in writing or speech; depict with words
Draws moving scenes of ghetto life.
To formulate or devise from evidence or data at hand
Draw a comparison.
To compose or write out in legal format
Draw a deed.
To proceed or move steadily
A ship drawing near the shore.
To attract customers or spectators
The new play is drawing well.
To pour forth liquid
The patient's veins don't draw easily.
To cause suppuration.
To take in a draft of air
The flue isn't drawing.
To steep in or as if in the manner of tea.
To pull out a weapon for use.
To use or call upon part of a fund or supply
Drawing on an account.
Drew from the experience of fellow workers.
To contract or tighten
Material that draws when it dries.
To conclude a contest without either side winning; tie
The chess players drew in 32 moves.
To make a likeness with lines on a surface; sketch.
An act of drawing.
The result of drawing.
Something drawn, especially a lot, card, or cards drawn at random.
The arrangement of competitors in a tournament in which the matchups are made at random.
A matchup or opponent in such a tournament.
An inhalation, especially through a pipe or other smoking implement.
One that attracts interest, customers, or spectators
A singer who is a popular draw.
The movable part of a drawbridge.
A special advantage; an edge
Have the draw on one's enemies.
A contest ending without either side winning.
A small natural depression that water drains into; a shallow gully.
(Football) A play in which the quarterback drops back as if to pass and then runs or hands off to a running back.
(Sports) A face-off.
(Games) A draw shot.
(Sports) A moderate, usually controlled hook in golf.
To move or develop something.
To sketch; depict with lines; to produce a picture with pencil, crayon, chalk, etc. on paper, cardboard, etc.
To deduce or infer.
He tried to draw a conclusion from the facts.
To steep, leave temporarily so as to allow the flavour to increase.
Tea is much nicer if you let it draw for more than two minutes before pouring.
(transitive) To take or procure from a place of deposit; to call for and receive from a fund, etc.
To draw money from a bank
To take into the lungs; to inhale.
(used with prepositions and adverbs) To move; to come or go.
We drew back from the cliff edge.
The runners drew level with each other as they approached the finish line.
Draw near to the fire and I will tell you a tale.
To approach, come to, or arrive at a point in time or a process.
The end of the world draws near.
(transitive) To obtain from some cause or origin; to infer from evidence or reasons; to deduce from premises; to derive.
To withdraw.
(archaic) To draw up (a document).
To draw a memorial, a deed, or bill of exchange
To exert or experience force.
(transitive) To drag, pull.
(intransitive) To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to move anything by pulling.
This horse draws well.
A ship's sail is said to draw when it is filled with wind.
To pull out, unsheathe (as a gun from a holster, or a tooth).
They drew their swords and fought each other.
To undergo the action of pulling or dragging.
The carriage draws easily.
(archery) To pull back the bowstring and its arrow in preparation for shooting.
(of curtains, etc.) To close.
You should draw the curtains at night.
(of curtains, etc.) To open.
She drew the curtains to let in the sunlight.
(cards) To take the top card of a deck into hand.
At the start of their turn, each player must draw a card.
(fluidic) To remove or separate or displace.
To extract a liquid, or cause a liquid to come out, primarily water or blood.
Draw water from a well;
Draw water for a bath;
The wound drew blood
To drain by emptying; to suck dry.
(figurative) To extract; to force out; to elicit; to derive.
To sink in water; to require a depth for floating.
A ship draws ten feet of water.
To work as an epispastic; said of a blister, poultice, etc.
(intransitive) To have a draught; to transmit smoke, gases, etc.
The chimney won't draw properly if it's clogged up with soot.
(analogous) To consume, for example, power.
The circuit draws three hundred watts.
To change in size or shape.
To extend in length; to lengthen; to protract; to stretch.
To draw a mass of metal into wire
(intransitive) To become contracted; to shrink.
To attract or be attracted.
To attract.
The citizens were afraid the casino would draw an undesirable element to their town.
I was drawn to her.
To induce (a reticent person) to speak.
He refused to be drawn on the subject
(hunting) To search for game.
To cause.
(intransitive) To exert an attractive force; (figurative) to act as an inducement or enticement.
(usually as draw on or draw upon) To rely on; utilize as a source.
She had to draw upon her experience to solve the problem.
To disembowel.
To end a game in a draw (with neither side winning).
We drew last time we played.
I drew him last time I played him.
I drew my last game against him.
To choose by means of a random selection process.
To select by the drawing of lots.
The winning lottery numbers were drawn every Tuesday.
(transitive) To win in a lottery or similar game of chance.
He drew a prize.
(poker) To trade in cards for replacements in draw poker games; to attempt to improve one's hand with future cards. See also draw out.
Jill has four diamonds; she'll try to draw for a flush.
(curling) To make a shot that lands gently in the house (the circular target) without knocking out other stones.
(cricket) To play (a short-length ball directed at the leg stump) with an inclined bat so as to deflect the ball between the legs and the wicket.
(golf) To hit (the ball) with the toe of the club so that it is deflected toward the left.
(billiards) To strike (the cue ball) below the center so as to give it a backward rotation which causes it to take a backward direction on striking another ball.
The result of a contest that neither side has won; a tie.
The game ended in a draw.
The procedure by which the result of a lottery is determined.
The draw is on Saturday.
Something that attracts e.g. a crowd.
The act of drawing.
The Wild West's quick-draw champion
(cricket) The result of a two-innings match in which at least one side did not complete all their innings before time ran out (as distinguished from a tie).
(golf) A golf shot that (for the right-handed player) curves intentionally to the left. See hook, slice, fade.
(curling) A shot that is intended to land gently in the house (the circular target) without knocking out other stones; cf. takeout.
(geography) A dry stream bed that drains surface water only during periods of heavy rain or flooding.
A bag of cannabis.
Cannabis.
In a commission-based job, an advance on future (potential) commissions given to an employee by the employer.
(poker) A situation in which one or more players has four cards of the same suit or four out of five necessary cards for a straight and requires a further card to make their flush or straight.
(archery) The act of pulling back the strings in preparation of firing.
(sports) The spin or twist imparted to a ball etc. by a drawing stroke.
Draft in the sense of the flow through a flue of gasses (smoke) resulting from a combustion process, possibly adjustable with a damper.
To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow.
He cast him down to ground, and all alongDrew him through dirt and mire without remorse.
He hastened to draw the stranger into a private room.
Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
The arrow is now drawn to the head.
To influence to move or tend toward one's self; to exercise an attracting force upon; to call towards itself; to attract; hence, to entice; to allure; to induce.
The poetDid feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods.
All eyes you draw, and with the eyes the heart.
To cause to come out for one's use or benefit; to extract; to educe; to bring forth; as: (a) To bring or take out, or to let out, from some receptacle, as a stick or post from a hole, water from a cask or well, etc.
The drew out the staves of the ark.
Draw thee waters for the siege.
I opened the tumor by the point of a lancet without drawing one drop of blood.
To pull from a sheath, as a sword.
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
To remove the contents of
Sucking and drawing the breast dischargeth the milk as fast as it can generated.
To extract; to force out; to elicit; to derive.
Spirits, by distillations, may be drawn out of vegetable juices, which shall flame and fume of themselves.
Until you had drawn oaths from him.
To extract the bowels of; to eviscerate; as, to draw a fowl; to hang, draw, and quarter a criminal.
In private draw your poultry, clean your tripe.
To take into the lungs; to inhale; to inspire; hence, also, to utter or produce by an inhalation; to heave.
Drew, or seemed to draw, a dying groan.
To obtain from some cause or origin; to infer from evidence or reasons; to deduce from premises; to derive.
We do not draw the moral lessons we might from history.
To extend in length; to lengthen; to protract; to stretch; to extend, as a mass of metal into wire.
How long her face is drawn!
And the huge Offa's dike which he drew from the mouth of Wye to that of Dee.
To take or procure from a place of deposit; to call for and receive from a fund, or the like; as, to draw money from a bank.
Provided magistracies were filled by men freely chosen or drawn.
To run, extend, or produce, as a line on any surface; hence, also, to form by marking; to make by an instrument of delineation; to produce, as a sketch, figure, or picture.
To represent by lines drawn; to form a sketch or a picture of; to represent by a picture; to delineate; hence, to represent by words; to depict; to describe.
A flattering painter who made it his careTo draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.
Can I, untouched, the fair one's passions move,Or thou draw beauty and not feel its power?
To write in due form; to prepare a draught of; as, to draw a memorial, a deed, or bill of exchange.
Clerk, draw a deed of gift.
To require (so great a depth, as of water) for floating; - said of a vessel; to sink so deep in (water); as, a ship draws ten feet of water.
To withdraw.
Go wash thy face, and draw the action.
To trace by scent; to track; - a hunting term.
To play (a short-length ball directed at the leg stump) with an inclined bat so as to deflect the ball between the legs and the wicket.
To leave (a contest) undecided; as, the battle or game was drawn.
To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to move anything by pulling; as, a horse draws well; the sails of a ship draw well.
To draw a liquid from some receptacle, as water from a well.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.
To exert an attractive force; to act as an inducement or enticement.
Keep a watch upon the particular bias of their minds, that it may not draw too much.
To have efficiency as an epispastic; to act as a sinapism; - said of a blister, poultice, etc.
To have draught, as a chimney, flue, or the like; to furnish transmission to smoke, gases, etc.
To unsheathe a weapon, especially a sword.
So soon as ever thou seest him, draw; and as thou drawest, swear horrible.
To perform the act, or practice the art, of delineation; to sketch; to form figures or pictures.
To become contracted; to shrink.
To move; to come or go; literally, to draw one's self; - with prepositions and adverbs; as, to draw away, to move off, esp. in racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire or retreat; to draw on, to advance; to draw up, to form in array; to draw near, draw nigh, or draw towards, to approach; to draw together, to come together, to collect.
To make a draft or written demand for payment of money deposited or due; - usually with on or upon.
You may draw on me for the expenses of your journey.
To admit the action of pulling or dragging; to undergo draught; as, a carriage draws easily.
To sink in water; to require a depth for floating.
The act of drawing; draught.
A lot or chance to be drawn.
The act of drawing a lot or chance.
A drawn game or battle, etc; a tied game; a tie.
That part of a bridge which may be raised, swung round, or drawn aside; the movable part of a drawbridge. See the Note under Drawbridge.
The result of drawing, or state of being drawn;
That which is drawn or is subject to drawing.
A gully that is shallower than a ravine
An entertainer who attracts large audiences;
He was the biggest drawing card they had
The finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided;
The game ended in a draw
Their record was 3 wins, 6 losses and a tie
Anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random;
The luck of the draw
They drew lots for it
A playing card or cards dealt or taken from the pack;
He got a pair of kings in the draw
A golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer;
He tooks lessons to cure his hooking
(American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage
Poker in which a player can discard cards and receive substitutes from the dealer;
He played only draw and stud
The act of drawing or hauling something;
The haul up the hill went very slowly
Cause to move along the ground by pulling;
Draw a wagon
Pull a sled
Get or derive;
He drew great benefits from his membership in the association
Make a mark or lines on a surface;
Draw a line
Trace the outline of a figure in the sand
Make, formulate, or derive in the mind;
I draw a line here
Draw a conclusion
Draw parallels
Make an estimate
What do you make of his remarks?
Bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover;
Draw a weapon
Pull out a gun
The mugger pulled a knife on his victim
Represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface;
She drew an elephant
Draw me a horse
Take liquid out of a container or well;
She drew water from the barrel
Give a description of;
He drew an elaborate plan of attack
Select or take in from a given group or region;
The participants in the experiment were drawn from a representative population
Elicit responses, such as objections, criticism, applause, etc.;
The President's comments drew sharp criticism from the Republicans
The comedian drew a lot of laughter
Suck in or take (air);
Draw a deep breath
Draw on a cigarette
Move or go steadily or gradually;
The ship drew near the shore
Remove (a commodity) from (a supply source);
She drew $2,000 from the account
The doctors drew medical supplies from the hospital's emergency bank
Choose at random;
Draw a card
Cast lots
In baseball: earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher;
He drew a base on balls
Bring or lead someone to a certain action or condition;
She was drawn to despair
The President refused to be drawn into delivering an ultimatum
The session was drawn to a close
Cause to flow;
The nurse drew blood
Write a legal document or paper;
The deed was drawn in the lawyer's office
Engage in drawing;
He spent the day drawing in the garden
Move or pull so as to cover or uncover something;
Draw the shades
Draw the curtains
Allow a draft;
This chimney draws very well
Require a specified depth for floating;
This boat draws 70 inches
Pull (a person) apart with four horses tied to his extremities, so as to execute him;
In the old days, people were drawn and quartered for certain crimes
Take in, also metaphorically;
The sponge absorbs water well
She drew strength from the minister's words
Direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes;
Her good looks attract the stares of many men
The ad pulled in many potential customers
This pianist pulls huge crowds
The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers
Thread on or as if on a string;
String pearls on a string
The child drew glass beads on a string
Thread dried cranberries
Pull back the sling of (a bow);
The archers were drawing their bows
Guide or pass over something;
He ran his eyes over her body
She ran her fingers along the carved figurine
He drew her hair through his fingers
Finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.;
The teams drew a tie
Contract;
The material drew after it was washed in hot water
Reduce the diameter of (a wire or metal rod) by pulling it through a die;
Draw wire
Steep; pass through a strainer;
Draw pulp from the fruit
Remove the entrails of;
Draw a chicken
Flatten, stretch, or mold metal or glass, by rolling or by pulling it through a die or by stretching;
Draw steel
Cause to localize at one point;
Draw blood and pus
To create an image by making lines and marks on a surface.
She loves to draw landscapes in her sketchbook.
Draw Snonyms
Delineate
To describe or portray (something) precisely.
The report delineated the steps of the experiment.
Sketch
To make a rough drawing of.
She sketched the outline of the building.
Depict
To show or represent by drawing, painting, or other art form.
The mural depicts scenes from local history.
Illustrate
To provide (a book, magazine, etc.) with pictures.
The guide was illustrated with colorful photos.
Render
To represent or depict artistically.
The artist rendered the landscape in watercolors.
Portray
To depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature.
The film portrays the life of the famous poet.
Draft
To draw up an outline or sketch for something.
He drafted a diagram of the machine.
Design
To conceive and plan out in the mind.
He designed a new logo for the company.
Trace
To outline; to draw over lines.
She traced the lettering on the sign.
Outline
To draw the principal lines or shapes of.
She outlined the chapter before writing it.
Draw Idioms & Phrases
Draw the line
To set a limit on what is acceptable.
She draws the line at lending her car to friends.
Draw the short straw
To be chosen to do an undesirable task.
He drew the short straw and had to clean up after the party.
Draw a blank
To fail to recall or find something.
When asked for an answer, he drew a blank.
Draw the curtains
To cover the windows with curtains, either literally or as a way to hide something.
They drew the curtains as the movie started.
Draw a long bow
To exaggerate or stretch the truth.
He's known to draw a long bow with his travel tales.
Quick on the draw
To react quickly.
In debates, she's always quick on the draw.
Draw fire
To attract criticism or hostility.
Her controversial opinion drew fire from all sides.
Draw a bead on
To aim at something, especially with a firearm.
The hunter drew a bead on the deer.
Draw up
To come to a stop or to prepare a document.
The car drew up in front of the house.
Draw a crowd
To attract a group of onlookers or spectators.
The street performers knew how to draw a crowd.
Draw first blood
To be the first to injure or gain an advantage in a conflict.
In the debate, she drew first blood with a strong opening statement.
Draw someone's fire
To attract someone's anger or criticism, often away from someone else.
He drew the teacher's fire to protect his friend.
Draw blood
To cause injury or to provoke a strong reaction.
The critic's harsh comments drew blood.
Draw on
To use something as a resource or source of inspiration.
She draws on her childhood experiences for her novels.
Draw breath
To take a moment to pause or rest.
After the race, he barely had time to draw breath.
Draw out
To make something last longer or to encourage someone to speak.
He knows how to draw out the best in his students.
Draw the line at
To refuse to tolerate something.
He draws the line at working on weekends.
Draw to a close
To come to an end.
As the festival drew to a close, people started to leave.
Draw a distinction
To identify or emphasize differences.
It's important to draw a distinction between facts and opinions.
Draw comfort from
To receive solace or reassurance from something.
She drew comfort from her family's support during tough times.
Draw Example Sentences
Every morning, the farmer would draw milk from the cows.
During the holidays, families draw together to celebrate.
The artist decided to draw a portrait of her friend.
The debate competition ended in a draw, with no clear winner.
The novel draws inspiration from real historical events.
The curtains were drawn to block the sunlight.
The teacher asked the students to draw a map of their state.
The charity event was designed to draw attention to a good cause.
She had to draw a bath for her younger siblings.
The documentary aims to draw parallels between different cultures.
The child tried to draw his favorite cartoon character.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in draw?
Since "draw" has only one syllable, that syllable is stressed.
Why is it called draw?
It's called "draw" because it originates from the Old English "dragan" meaning "to drag, draw, or protract."
What is the root word of draw?
The root of "draw" is the Old English "dragan," which means to pull or drag.
How many syllables are in draw?
There is 1 syllable in "draw."
How is draw used in a sentence?
"Draw" can be used to indicate the act of producing an image, as in, She will draw a horse.
What is the pronunciation of draw?
Draw is pronounced as /drɔː/ or /drɑː/ in American English.
What is another term for draw?
Another term for "draw" could be "sketch" when referring to making a picture.
How do we divide draw into syllables?
Draw is a single syllable word, so it is not divided.
What is the verb form of draw?
"Draw" itself is a verb; its forms include "draws," "drawing," "drew," and "drawn."
What is the first form of draw?
The first form is "draw."
What is the opposite of draw?
The opposite can be "push" when referring to movement or "lose" in the context of a competition.
Is draw a vowel or consonant?
The first letter "d" in "draw" is a consonant.
Which determiner is used with draw?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "this" can be used with "draw" when it's a noun, as in "a draw in the game."
Is draw an abstract noun?
"Draw" can be a concrete noun when referring to an act or result of drawing, but it can also represent abstract concepts like attraction or a tie in games.
Is draw a collective noun?
"Draw" is not typically used as a collective noun.
What is the plural form of draw?
As a verb, "draw" does not have a plural form. Its third person singular present form is "draws."
Is draw an adverb?
No, "draw" is not an adverb.
Is the draw term a metaphor?
"Draw" can be used metaphorically in various contexts, like "draw attention" or "draw a comparison."
Is the word draw Gerund?
The gerund form of "draw" is "drawing," used as a noun or adjective.
Which vowel is used before draw?
The usage of vowels before "draw" depends on the context, but there's no specific rule.
Which article is used with draw?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with "draw" when it functions as a noun.
What is the third form of draw?
The third form is "drawn."
What part of speech is draw?
"Draw" is a verb.
Is draw a countable noun?
When "draw" is used as a noun, it can be countable, as in "The game ended in a draw."
Is the word draw imperative?
"Draw" can be used in the imperative mood, as in commands like "Draw a circle."
Which conjunction is used with draw?
Conjunctions like "and" and "but" can be used with "draw," depending on the sentence structure.
What is the second form of draw?
The second form is "drew."
What is the singular form of draw?
"Draw" remains "draw" in the singular form, as it is a verb.
Is draw a noun or adjective?
"Draw" is primarily a verb, but it can also be a noun in contexts like a lottery draw or a tied game.
Is draw a negative or positive word?
"Draw" is neutral; its positive or negative connotation depends on the context.
Is the word “draw” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Draw" can be used in sentences where it acts as a direct object, as in "I love to draw."
Which preposition is used with draw?
Prepositions like "from," "to," and "with" can be used with "draw," depending on the context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
