26984 words

draws

42 definitions • 67 examples
1
to make a picture of something or someone with a pencil or pen:

Examples:

Jonathan can draw very well.
The children drew pictures of their families.
Draw a line at the bottom of the page.
2

Examples:

He's an excellent speaker who always draws a crowd.
draw someone’s attention to something Could I draw your attention to item number three on the agenda?
draw attention UK Does he wear those ridiculous clothes to draw attention to himself?
3
to attract someone's attention:

Examples:

Her eyes were immediately drawn to the tall blond man standing at the bar.
4
to make or show a comparison between things:

Examples:

draw a comparison You can't really draw a comparison between the two cases - they're completely different.
5
to consider the facts of a situation and make a decision about what is true, correct, likely to happen, etc.:

Examples:

I'd seen them together so often, I drew the logical conclusion that they were husband and wife.
6
to move in a particular direction, especially in a vehicle:

Examples:

draw in She arrived on the platform just as the train was drawing in.
draw into The train slowly drew into the station.
draw alongside As we drew alongside (= reached) the black car, I suddenly recognized my ex-boyfriend at the wheel.
draw level with UK As I drew level with (= reached) the car I saw that the front door was wide open.
7
to become nearer in space or time:

Examples:

As Christmas draws nearer, the big stores start to get unbearably crowded.
8

Examples:

As the evening drew to a close, people started reaching for their coats.
9
If something draws a reaction, people react in the stated way:

Examples:

draw a response Her speech last night in the Senate drew an angry response.
draw something from someone/something The spectacle drew gasps from the audience.
10
to pull or direct something in a particular direction:

Examples:

She drew her coat tightly around her shoulders.
draw someone aside The crowd watched as the referee drew the player aside and spoke to him.
draw someone to one side A couple of days later, Poppy drew Kit to one side.
11
to pull curtains so that they are either together or apart:

Examples:

Could you draw the curtains, please?
12
to choose a number, card, etc. from several numbers, cards, etc. without first seeing it, in a competition or a game:

Examples:

I was dealt two aces, and I drew a third.
13
to take something out of a container or your pocket, especially a weapon:

Examples:

draw a knife Suddenly he drew a knife and held it to my throat.
draw a gun He was fatally shot when he drew a gun on officers after a foot chase.
14
to cause a substance, especially blood, to come out of a body:

Examples:

draw blood He bit me so hard that it drew blood.
15
to get a feeling, idea, etc. from something or someone:

Examples:

draw something from something She drew comfort from the fact that he died peacefully.
16
to take air or smoke into your lungs:

Examples:

draw a breath She drew a deep breath and plunged into the water.
17
to finish a game with the same number of points as the other person or team:

Examples:

draw with Coventry drew 1–1 with United in the semifinal.
18
to get money from a bank, account, etc. so that you can use it:

Examples:

draw money out I drew some money out of my account to pay for our trip.
19
to receive money regularly, especially as an employee or from the government:

Examples:

draw a pension He's been drawing a pension for ten years.
draw benefits The system will come under increasing pressure as millions of baby boomers retire and start drawing benefits.
draw Social Security US My mother has just started drawing Social Security.
20
someone or something that a lot of people are interested in:

Examples:

big draw We need someone at the event who'll be a big draw and attract the paying public.
21
a situation in which each team in a game has equal points and neither side wins:

Examples:

The result was a draw.
22
a competition that is decided by choosing a particular ticket or number by chance, or the action or event of choosing a particular ticket or number in this way:

Examples:

Tickets for the draw clearly stated that under-18s were not eligible.
We will enter your numbers in a draw and let you know if you win a prize.
We all tuned in to watch the draw live on TV.
23
a way of deciding who will play against whom in a competition by choosing numbers by chance:

Examples:

The draw for the first round will take place on Monday night.
favourable draw They could reach the final if they get a favourable draw.
24
an act of inhaling (= taking into your lungs) smoke from a cigarette, etc.:

Examples:

draw on After a long pause and a draw on her cigarette, she answered.
take a draw He lit a cigarette and took a deep draw.
25
the act of pulling out a gun so you are ready to use it:

Examples:

Her father bought her a gun and holster and taught her a fast draw.
In the film he plays an angry young gunslinger who rides into town to test his draw against an ageing sheriff.
26
to make a picture of something or someone with a pencil, pen, etc.:

Examples:

[ T ] The child drew a picture of a dog.
27
to move in a particular direction:

Examples:

As we drew near, a dog started to bark.
28
to pull or direct something or someone in a particular direction, or attract someone toward a particular place:

Examples:

[ T ] The Grand Canyon draws millions of tourists each year.
[ T ] I would like to thank Professor Reynolds for drawing my attention to this article.
29
To draw is also to pull together or close something covering a window, so that no one can see you:

Examples:

[ T ] She drew the blinds and sat down to read.
30
To draw is also to suck in:

Examples:

[ I ] He sharply drew in his breath.
31
to remove something:

Examples:

It was my turn to draw a card.
32
to decide on something as a result of thinking about it:

Examples:

We can draw some conclusions about the causes of this disease.
33
to cause a reaction from someone:

Examples:

The criticism drew an angry response from the mayor.
34
someone or something that attracts a lot of interest, esp. of paying customers:

Examples:

Every team needs a superstar who will be a big draw.
35
(in sports and games) a situation in which each side or team has equal points or is in an equal position and neither side wins:

Examples:

The hockey game ended in a draw, 2 to 2.
36
to get money from a bank or an account so that you can use it:

Examples:

draw money/cash from sth Customers will be charged each time they draw cash from the cash dispensers.
The company is now able to draw money from the £10m loan it has negotiated with Royal Bank of Scotland.
37
to receive money regularly, especially as an employee or from the government:

Examples:

The chief executive drew £1million last year in salary and bonuses.
38
to write out a cheque and receive money for it:

Examples:

US Dollar cheques can be accepted if they are drawn on a bank with clearing facilities in the UK.
39
to write a bill of exchange (= document used in trade that orders payment for goods or services):

Examples:

draw a bill of exchange on sb Bills of exchange are drawn on buyers and accepted when the seller hands over the bill of lading covering the goods.
40
someone or something that attracts a lot of people:

Examples:

With an ice rink and indoor turf field, the complex has been popular and a draw for out-of-town visitors.
a big/huge draw As in China, the big draw is India's massive and lucrative domestic market potential.
41
an act of using some of the supply of something, especially oil or gas, or the amount that is used:

Examples:

Oil prices continued to rise yesterday amid fears that figures from America will show another big draw on stocks.
42
something that uses up part of a supply of something:

Examples:

The training program is a draw on all our resources.

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