drawdown

1 of 2

noun

draw·​down ˈdrȯ-ˌdau̇n 

1

: a lowering of a water level (as in a reservoir)

2

a

: the process of depleting

b

: reduction

draw down

2 of 2

verb

ˌdrȯ-ˈdau̇n 

drew down; drawn down; drawing down; draws down

transitive verb

: to deplete by using or spending

Synonyms of drawdown

Verb

• spend
• consume
• drain
• exhaust
• play out
• reduce
• use up
• run out of
• use
• absorb
• burn

Examples of drawdown in a Sentence

Verb

I drew down my bank account just paying for tuition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Oil jumps despite record draw On Wednesday, more than 30 countries in the International Energy Agency agreed to the biggest-ever coordinated drawdown of global oil reserves of 400 million barrels, about 40% of which will come from the United States. —Timothy Gardner, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

The International Energy Agency on Wednesday announced an unprecedented release of 400 million barrels, surpassing even the drawdown following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

Verb

On Tuesday, its central bank approved an emergency support package to let banks draw down reserves, ease liquidity requirements, and delay classifying loans as non-performing for customers hit by the current crisis. —Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 18 Mar. 2026

Maybe the central bank is drawing down reserves. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drawdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown
• knockdown