draw on

verb

drew on; drawn on; drawing on; draws on

intransitive verb

: approach

night draws on

transitive verb

: bring on, cause

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Examples of draw on in a Sentence

the general's imprudent remarks drew on a public rebuke by the secretary of defense

night draws on, so we should hurry home

Recent Examples on the Web

Published on June 5 in the journal Criminal Law Forum, the investigation draws on direct archival evidence from Cambridge University that is helping fill in the gaps to a high-profile true crime scandal that would make headlines even today. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 June 2025

Here are the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 5 June 2025

The blend—featuring blue lotus, mugwort, and damiana—draws on botanicals traditionally used to ease the mind, ground the body, and soothe the nervous system. —Martine Thompson, Essence, 5 June 2025

But Shah, drawing on her experience producing major festivals like North America’s largest South Asian festival, Masala! —Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for draw on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

draw on

verb

: to come closer : approach

as night drew on