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

One of Commander Denno’s early tasks was to draw up the ship’s crest — a heraldic design that would be part of the submarine’s identity. —John Ismay, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024

Who is involved in drawing up and taking Liverpool’s corners? —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

The Senate responded by drawing up a bill that would create 66 new federal judge positions. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024

The job’s not just about drawing up an airtight strategy for plays to call on the field. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 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