Illustration of drawbridge
drawbridge
noun
draw·bridge
ˈdrȯ-ˌbrij 
: a bridge made to be raised up, let down, or drawn aside so as to permit or hinder passage see castle illustration
Examples of drawbridge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The moats are metaphorical, the drawbridge always down.
—
Christian Wiman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The Ashleigh and its barges in tow struck the drawbridge on Oct. 7, 2021, causing some $584,911 in damages.
—Blake Kaplan The Sun Herald (tns), al, 1 Sep. 2023
The outage has also affected part of Alameda, causing its three drawbridges to stop working and disrupting traffic access to the island, CBS Bay Area reported.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2023
In one of the home’s three bedrooms, an entire bedroom wall unfolds to the outdoors, similar to a drawbridge at the entrance of a castle.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2023
Mississippi transportation officials want a tug boat company to pay up for allegedly causing more than a $500,000 in damage to the drawbridge on Cowan-Lorraine Road in Gulfport.
—Blake Kaplan The Sun Herald (tns), al, 1 Sep. 2023
What's your message to them in light of all of this? CHRISTIE: That America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge.
—ABC News, 25 June 2023
Just two years later, the drawbridge replacement project cut off direct access for nine months between Miami, the islands and Miami Beach.
—Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The massive New River drawbridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale, erected in 1978, malfunctioned for reasons yet to be identified, raising the ire of not only Brightline passengers, but boaters and other marine interests who temporarily were unable to navigate through the city’s center.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2023
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Christian Wiman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
The Ashleigh and its barges in tow struck the drawbridge on Oct. 7, 2021, causing some $584,911 in damages.
—Blake Kaplan The Sun Herald (tns), al, 1 Sep. 2023
The outage has also affected part of Alameda, causing its three drawbridges to stop working and disrupting traffic access to the island, CBS Bay Area reported.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2023
In one of the home’s three bedrooms, an entire bedroom wall unfolds to the outdoors, similar to a drawbridge at the entrance of a castle.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2023
Mississippi transportation officials want a tug boat company to pay up for allegedly causing more than a $500,000 in damage to the drawbridge on Cowan-Lorraine Road in Gulfport.
—Blake Kaplan The Sun Herald (tns), al, 1 Sep. 2023
What's your message to them in light of all of this? CHRISTIE: That America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge.
—ABC News, 25 June 2023
Just two years later, the drawbridge replacement project cut off direct access for nine months between Miami, the islands and Miami Beach.
—Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2023
The massive New River drawbridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale, erected in 1978, malfunctioned for reasons yet to be identified, raising the ire of not only Brightline passengers, but boaters and other marine interests who temporarily were unable to navigate through the city’s center.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drawbridge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of drawbridge was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near drawbridge
Cite this Entry
“Drawbridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drawbridge. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
drawbridge
noun
draw·bridge
-ˌbrij
: a bridge made to be wholly or partly raised up, let down, or drawn aside so as to permit or prevent passage
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