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\ ˈdraft 
, ˈdräft \
, ˈdräft \Definition of draft
(Entry 1 of 3)
2a : the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling
a last draft on her cigarette also : the portion drunk or inhaled in one such act
b : a portion poured out or mixed for drinking : dose
3 mechanical engineering
a : the force required to pull a plow or other implement
b : load or load-pulling capacity
the draft of a typical draft horse
4a : the act of moving loads by drawing or pulling : pull
b : a team of animals together with what they draw
5a : delineation, representation a draft for a future skyscraper
c : a preliminary sketch, outline, or version
the author's first draft a draft treaty
6 : the act, result, or plan of lengthening or stretching something (such as threads or metal)
b : a portion of liquid so drawn
a draft of ale
c : draft (see draft entry 2 sense 2) beer
a glass of draft
8 nautical : the depth of water a ship draws (see draw entry 1 sense transitive 6) especially when loaded
9a(1) : a system for or act of selecting individuals from a group (as for compulsory military service)
debating whether or not to institute a draft
(2) : an act or process of selecting an individual (as for political candidacy) without the individual's expressed consent
b : a group of individuals selected especially by military draft
c sports : a system whereby exclusive rights to selected new players are apportioned among professional teams
He was chosen in the first round of the draft.
10a : an order for the payment of money drawn (see draw entry 1 sense 7c) by one person or bank on another
b : the act or an instance of drawing from or making demands upon something : demand
11a : a current of air in a closed-in space
felt a draft
b : a device for regulating the flow of air (as in a fireplace)
open the draft
12 : angle, taper specifically, industrial engineering : the taper (see taper entry 2 sense 2b) given to a pattern or die (see die entry 2 sense 3) so that the work can be easily withdrawn
13 : a pocket of reduced air pressure behind a moving object also, racing sports : the use of such a draft to save energy
on draft
: ready to be drawn from a receptacle
beer on draft
draft
adjectiveDefinition of draft (Entry 2 of 3)
1 animal husbandry : used or adapted for drawing loads
draft horses
2 : being or having been ready to be drawn from a receptacle : being or having been on draft
drinking draft beer
draft
verbdrafted; drafting; drafts
Definition of draft (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : to select for some purpose: such as
a : to conscript for military service
was drafted and sent overseas
b sports : to select (a professional athlete) by draft
got drafted by the Yankees
2a : to draw the preliminary sketch, version, or plan of
draft legislation
3 : to draw off or away
water drafted by pumps
4 racing sports : to stay close behind (another racer) so as to take advantage of the reduced air pressure created by the leading racer
1 : to practice draftsmanship
2 racing sports : to draft another racer (as in car or bike racing)
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Other Words from draft
Verb
draftable \ ˈdraf-tə-bəl , ˈdräf- \ adjective
, ˈdräf- \ adjectivedraftee \ ˌdraf-ˈtē , ˌdräf- \ noun
, ˌdräf- \ noundrafter \ ˈdraf-tər , ˈdräf- \ noun
, ˈdräf- \ noun
Examples of draft in a Sentence
Noun
The published poem differs quite a bit from earlier drafts.
You may want to seal the windows with plastic to stop drafts. Verb
The two countries are drafting a treaty.
The drama club drafted three teenagers to be in the parade.
The legislature debated drafting more soldiers.
The new rule prohibits teams from drafting players under 18.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The Astros were fined $5 million, which is the maximum allowed under the Major League Constitution, and must forfeit their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.
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Washington Post, "Astros, Red Sox look ahead in wake of sign-stealing scandal," 19 Jan. 2020 Like those other two, Harris — who accounted for 20 total touchdowns this season — would have been a potential day two NFL draft pick based on feedback AL.com gathered from NFL evaluators.
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Matt Zenitz | Mzenitz@al.com, al, "Why Alabama star Najee Harris decided to pass on entering NFL draft," 16 Jan. 2020 Maintaining his matter-of-fact means to an end, Brannen didn't talk up the stage created by an ESPN broadcast and a contest against a likely future NBA lottery draft pick in freshman forward Precious Achiuwa and a former NBA megastar in Hardaway.
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Fletcher Page, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati basketball and No. 22 Memphis meet with validation on the line," 16 Jan. 2020 While combine numbers may rearrange this list, here’s a look at the likely Horned Frog draft picks.
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Grant Mcgalliard, Dallas News, "NFL draft status update: See where TCU prospects like Jalen Reagor, Lucas Niang are being projected," 15 Jan. 2020 The Astros will forfeit their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.
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Anchorage Daily News, "Astros’ manager, GM fired for sign stealing after MLB bans pair," 13 Jan. 2020 Houston was also hit with a $5 million fine, the maximum allowed by MLB, and the team will have to forfeit their first and second round draft picks in 2020 and 2021.
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TheWeek, "MLB issues historic punishment for Astros following sign-stealing investigation," 13 Jan. 2020 Trade bait General manager Bob Quinn has failed to hit a home run with his first-round draft picks so far.
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Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Hey, Detroit Lions: Here's the 20 things you can do to return to glory in 2020," 10 Jan. 2020 After Mo Lewis of the Jets delivered a crushing hit on Drew Bledsoe of the Patriots on Sept. 23, 2001, New England turned to a sixth-round draft pick named Tom Brady to take over as quarterback.
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Victor Mather, New York Times, "Tom Brady and the Patriots Have to Part Ways Someday. Is It Too Soon?," 7 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective First round: Navigating the green room As mentioned in previous articles, every player’s situation is different and draft day is no exception.
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Matt Babcock, SI.com, "The Dreams and Nightmares of Every Agent on NBA Draft Night," 18 June 2018 Kleber had tried to catch the eye of an NBA team twice, withdrawing from draft consideration in 2012 and going undrafted in 2014.
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Kevin Casas, star-telegram, "Tall tale of a friendship made in Germany and groomed with the Dallas Mavericks," 3 Mar. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In April, Chile will hold a referendum on writing a new constitution to replace the one drafted in 1980 during the Pinochet military dictatorship, which heavily favored the private sector.
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Ryan Dube, WSJ, "Latin America, Hit by Slower Growth, Braces for More Instability," 20 Jan. 2020 Chriss has bounced around the league since being drafted eighth overall by Sacramento in 2016.
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Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, "Zach LaVine, Bulls searching for wins — and respect," 18 Jan. 2020 On Monday, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj signed the cease-fire pact drafted in Moscow.
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Washington Post, "Libyan cease-fire unravels as eastern warlord Hifter leaves Moscow without signing truce," 14 Jan. 2020 But prospects Tristan Wirfs and Wills are proving right tackles are still going to be highly drafted in 2020.
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Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, "NFL Draft 2020: Breaking down other tackles who could help the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line -- Film Review," 10 Jan. 2020 At this time, however, there is no reason to worry about being drafted.
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Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "U.S. Army issues "fact check" on texts about a military draft," 8 Jan. 2020 College deferments saved him from any danger of being drafted for Vietnam.
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Fintan O’toole, The New York Review of Books, "The Designated Mourner," 7 Jan. 2020 The Bengals drafted Jackson in the first round (pick No.
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Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati.com, "Bengals CB William Jackson III to undergo surgery on right shoulder," 1 Jan. 2020 Not only has Philadelphia been Dallas’ top competitor in the NFC East since Prescott joined the league, the Eagles also happen to be the team that owned the second overall pick in 2016, the year Prescott was drafted.
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Mike Finger, ExpressNews.com, "Finger: For Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, a chance to state his case," 21 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'draft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Dictionary Entries near draft
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Last Updated
21 Jan 2020
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Draft.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draft. Accessed 29 January 2020.
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More Definitions for draft
draft
noun English Language Learners Definition of draft
(Entry 1 of 3)
: a version of something (such as a document) that you make before you make the final version
: cool air moving in a closed space (such as a room)
: a system in which young people are required to join the armed forces of a country for a period of service
draft
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of draft (Entry 2 of 3)
of an animal : used for pulling heavy loads
of beer : stored in and poured from a large container
: not yet in the final form
draft
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of draft (Entry 3 of 3)
: to make a version of (something, such as a document or plan) that will need more work in order to be finished
: to choose (someone) for a special purpose
US : to officially order (someone) to join the armed forces
See the full definition for draft in the English Language Learners Dictionary
draft
noun\ ˈdraft , ˈdräft \
, ˈdräft \Kids Definition of draft
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : a version of something written or drawn (as an essay, document, or plan) that has or will have more than one version
I finished the rough draft of my report.
2 : a current of air
3 : a device to regulate an air supply (as in a fireplace)
4 : the act of pulling or hauling : the thing or amount pulled
a beast of draft
5 : the act or an instance of drinking or inhaling : the portion drunk or inhaled at one time
He took a draft of his drink.
6 : the act of drawing out liquid (as from a cask) : a portion of liquid drawn out
a draft of beer
7 : the depth of water a ship needs in order to float
8 : the practice of ordering people into military service
9 : the practice of choosing someone to play on a professional sports team
10 : an order made by one person or organization to another to pay money to a third person or organization
draft
adjectiveKids Definition of draft (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : used for pulling loads
a draft animal
2 : not in final form
a draft report
3 : ready to be drawn from a container
draft beer
draft
verbdrafted; drafting
Kids Definition of draft (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : to write or draw a version of something (as an essay or plan) that usually needs more work
2 : to choose someone to do something
Mom drafted us to clean the garage.
3 : to pick especially for required military service
draft
nounvariants:
or chiefly British draught \ ˈdraft, ˈdrȧft \
\Medical Definition of draft
1 : a portion (as of medicine) poured out or mixed for drinking : dose
2 : a current of air in a closed-in space
Other Words from draft
drafty or chiefly British draughty \ ˈdraf-tē, ˈdrȧf- \ adjective
\ adjectiveKeep scrolling for more
draft
nounLegal Definition of draft
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : a preliminary version of something (as a law)
2a : a system for or act of selecting individuals from a group (as for military service)
b : the act or process of selecting an individual (as for political candidacy) without his or her expressed consent
3 : an order for the payment of money drawn by one person or bank on another — see also drawee, drawer — compare check
— documentary draft
: a draft that will be honored only upon the presentation of certain documents (as an invoice or certificate of title)
— sight draft
: a draft payable on presentation
— time draft
: a draft payable a specified number of days after the date of the draft or of its presentation
draft
transitive verbLegal Definition of draft (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to select for some purpose specifically : to conscript for military service
2 : to compose or prepare especially the preliminary version of
drafting legislation
: to practice draftsmanship
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Time Traveler for draft
The first known use of draft was in the 13th century
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