📒 to make pictures, or a picture of something, with a pencil, pen or chalk (but not paint)
- You draw beautifully.
- draw something to draw a picture/map/diagram
- She drew a house.
📒 to describe something in words in a way that produces an image in somebody's mind
- The report drew a grim picture of inefficiency and corruption.
- She writes lively stories with sharply drawn characters.
📒 to have a particular idea after you have studied something or thought about it
- draw something Is it possible to draw inferences about the environment during the Bronze Age?
- draw something from something What conclusions did you draw from the report?
- We can draw some lessons for the future from this accident.
📒 to express a comparison or a contrast; to define the limits of something
- to draw a comparison/a parallel/an analogy/a distinction between two events
- He attempted to draw a contrast between himself and the prime minister.
- The site's boundaries were tightly drawn by the Department of the Environment.
📒 to produce a reaction or response
- draw something The plan has drawn a lot of criticism.
- draw something from somebody The announcement drew loud applause from the audience.
- The proposal has drawn interest from local businessmen.
📒 to direct or attract somebody's attention to something
- Our aim is to draw attention to the plight of these children.
- The exhibition drew great critical attention.
- My eyes were drawn to the man in the corner.
📒 to attract or interest somebody
- draw somebody The movie is drawing large audiences.
- The events continue to draw huge crowds.
- The course draws students from all over the country.
📒 to move in the direction mentioned
- The train drew into the station.
- The train drew in.
- The figures in the distance seemed to be drawing closer.
📒 to move something/somebody by pulling it or them gently
- He drew the cork out of the bottle.
- I drew my chair up closer to the fire.
- She drew me onto the balcony.
📒 to pull a vehicle such as a carriage
- be drawn by something The Queen's coach was drawn by six horses.
- a horse-drawn carriage
📒 to open or close curtains, etc.
- The blinds were drawn.
- It was getting dark so I switched on the light and drew the curtains.
- She drew back the curtains and let the sunlight in.
📒 to take out a weapon, such as a gun or a sword, in order to attack somebody
- She drew a revolver on me.
- He came towards them with his sword drawn.
📒 to make somebody say more about something
- be drawn (about/on something) Spielberg refused to be drawn on his next movie.
📒 to decide something by picking cards, tickets or numbers by chance
- draw for something We drew for partners.
- draw something He drew the winning ticket.
- draw something (from something) Names were drawn from a hat for the last few places.
📒 to finish a game without either team winning
- England and France drew.
- England and France drew 3–3.
- draw with/against somebody England drew with/against France.
📒 to take money or payments from a bank account or post office
- draw something out (of something) I drew out £200.
- Can I draw $80 out of my account?
- draw something (from something) She went to the post office to draw her pension.
📒 to take or pull liquid or gas from somewhere
- to draw water from a well
- The device draws gas along the pipe.
- The ducts draw out stale air.
📒 to breathe in smoke or air
- draw at/on something He drew thoughtfully on his pipe.
- draw something in She breathed deeply, drawing in the fresh mountain air.
📒 if two people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry with each other
📒 used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin
📒 to aim carefully at somebody/something before shooting a gun
- One of the police officers drew a bead on the gunman and fired.
📒 to get no response or result
- So far, the police investigation has drawn a blank.
📒 to make somebody bleed
📒 to stop doing something and rest
- She talks all the time and hardly stops to draw breath.
- He spoke solidly for twenty minutes, barely pausing to draw breath.
📒 to live; to be alive
- He was as kind a man as ever drew breath.
📒 to make somebody direct their anger, criticism, etc. at you, so that others do not have to face it
📒 to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
- Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.
📒 to refuse to do something; to set a limit
- I don't mind helping, but I draw the line at doing everything myself.
- We would have liked to invite all our relatives, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
📒 to make a difference between two closely related ideas
- Where do you draw the line between genius and madness?
📒 to say that something is finished and not worth discussing any more
📒 to use a method of choosing somebody/something that involves putting a number folded pieces of paper in a bag, one of them with a mark on it. People then take it in turns to take a piece of paper from the bag and the one who takes the paper with the mark
- They drew lots for the right to go first.
📒 to be the person in a group who is chosen or forced to perform an unpleasant duty or task
- I drew the short straw and had to clean the toilets.
📒 to use a method of choosing somebody to do or have something in which each person takes a piece of paper, etc. from a container and the one whose paper has a special mark is chosen
- We drew straws for who went first.
📒 to stand straight and tall in order to show that you are determined, powerful or important
- He drew himself up to his full height and glared at us.
📒 (to establish) a clear limit to what you will do or accept
- It’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop allowing workplace bullying to continue.
📒 to speak to somebody in private, especially in order to warn or tell them about something