draw up

verb

drew up; drawn up; drawing up; draws up

transitive verb

1

: to bring (a body of troops) into array

2

: to prepare a draft or version of

draw up plans

3

: to bring to a halt

4

: to straighten (oneself) to an erect posture especially as an assertion of dignity or resentment

intransitive verb

: to come to a halt

the car drew up at the door

Synonyms

• arrest
• bring up
• catch
• check
• fetch up
• halt
• hold up
• pull up
• stall
• stay
• still
• stop

Examples of draw up in a Sentence

he drew up his horse outside the tavern

drew up the troops into a line along the ridge

Recent Examples on the Web

If the bill passes before the year's end, the District can begin drawing up blueprints. —Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024

During their stay in Argentina, the San Sebastian and Malaga Festivals will meet representatives of the Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santiago del Estero provinces to work on drawing up a collaboration agreement to promote exchange and relations between Spanish and Argentine cinema. —John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024

No mandate exists — though stronger emissions rules could mean automakers would have to sell many more EVs by 2032 or face stiff penalties if those rules weren't changed — but Detroit automakers were part of drawing up those standards. —Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024

One of the most controversial measures, question three, requires the City Council to draw up official analyses estimating the financial impact of bills before voting on them. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

draw up

verb

1

: to arrange (as troops) in order

2

: to prepare a draft or version of

draw up plans

3

: to straighten (oneself) to an erect posture

drew himself up angrily and left the room

4

: to bring or come to a stop

the car drew up at the door