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

The Indus Waters Treaty was drawn up in 1960 by the World Bank, and required the two countries to divide the river system’s water equally. —Simmone Shah, Time, 9 May 2025

Additionally, Rubio has instructed leaders throughout the department to draw up plans to reduce their personnel by 15% -- a move that could lead to thousands of additional job cuts. —Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025

Three years ago, lawyers working with the state drew up a settlement agreement that said Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor, Centene, overbilled taxpayers $67,048,611 for medications, according to a copy of a draft agreement obtained by the Herald/Times. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2025

Her hair was either drawn up in a bun on the top of her head or covered with a piece of cloth. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 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