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

After a full day of exploring, pick a bottle of red from the kitchen’s wine fridge, draw up a bath, and light the fire. —Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2024

Environmental experts say the authorities should tap the knowledge of specialists to draw up a coordinated approach. —Muhammad Tahmid Zami and Mosabber Hossain, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024

In 1977, before even winning power, the Tory MP Nicholas Ridley had drawn up a plan to defeat the NUM by stockpiling coal for power stations, and building up a powerful police presence: officers were mobilised from forces across the country. —The Week Uk, theweek, 24 Mar. 2024

That was music to the ears of the Terps and coach Kevin Willard, who drew up a zone defense that held Rutgers to a season-low-tying output. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 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