draw on

verb

drew on; drawn on; drawing on; draws on

intransitive verb

: approach

night draws on

transitive verb

: bring on, cause

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Examples of draw on in a Sentence

the general's imprudent remarks drew on a public rebuke by the secretary of defense

night draws on, so we should hurry home

Recent Examples on the Web

With their hands anxiously hovering over pistol grips in every direction, Jacob and McDowell cut the tension and draw on Banner's men. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Two of the divisions were unscathed: global immunization, which supports vaccine distributions for polio and other diseases, and global health protection, which is responsible for disease surveillance, gathering information and drawing on their network of labs. —Fatma Tanis, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025

The Grammy-winning singer draws on her more than 50 albums of folk, rock, show tunes, standards and original compositions. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025

That’s what’s in store starting April 8 for those who play the twice-weekly lottery game — drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays — in California or other states. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for draw on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

draw on

verb

: to come closer : approach

as night drew on