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 of draw up

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• pull up
• check
• stay

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

The Commission, which is the bloc’s executive arm, is carrying out the investigation under the EU’s longstanding competition regulations, rather than its newer Digital Markets Act that was drawn up to prevent Big Tech companies from monopolizing online markets. —Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025

The executive order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to create a new task force to challenge state laws, and directs the Commerce Department to draw up a list of problematic regulations. —CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

The players expected a Hammon special; their coach is known for drawing up clever plays involving misdirection and deceit. —Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025

What To Know The order, issued Saturday night by Washington Federal District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, stops the administration accessing the material in the next few days to draw up new charges. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for draw up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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