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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The president was spotted peeking at the design, drawn up by Harrison Design, during a meeting in the Oval Office with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025 Ahead of the fair, the Deadline International team has been beavering away behind the scenes to draw up lists of our annual Hot Ones in drama, docs and formats. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 Plans were also drawn up to expand the Bridgford Stand, the section of the ground where away fans are housed. Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 The first 30 years of exoplanet science focused on discovery and of finding as many planets of all different types as possible so that scientists could draw up statistics for how common each type of planet is. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for draw up

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of draw up was in 1608

Cite this Entry

“Draw up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/draw%20up. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on draw up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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