drawdown

noun draw·down \ -ˌdau̇n \

Definition of drawdown

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

2 a :the process of depleting

b :reduction

Recent Examples of drawdown from the Web

The end of the Cold War was marked by a major drawdown in U.S. Army forces in Europe.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Army Is Getting Deadlier Stryker Armored Vehicles to Protect Europe From Russia," 22 Aug. 2017
Yet as U.S. troops left and the Taliban began regaining territory, Obama decided against a total drawdown, and in June 2016 bolstered the advisory role and approved more aggressive airstrikes against the Taliban.

— Washington Post, "Trump faces the grim reality of Afghanistan: No quick path to victory and no clear way out," 21 Aug. 2017
A U.S. drawdown would almost certainly reorient Iran’s approach to its neighbor to the east.

— barry r. posen, The Atlantic, "It's Time To Make Afghanistan Someone Else's Problem," 18 Aug. 2017
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month Highs After Venezuela Unrest Crude oil prices hit a four-month high overnight, cheered by the sight (finally) of some big drawdowns in U.S. inventories and further evidence of the U.S. drilling boom running out of steam.

— geoffrey smith, Fortune, "CEO Daily: Monday, 31st July," 31 July 2017
But commanders have complained that the sharp drawdown hurt their ability to adequately train and advise the Afghans while also increasing the counterterror fight.

— Washington Post, "Marines rekindling old Afghan relations in Helmand Province," 26 June 2017
Obama had ordered a rapid drawdown of U.S. troops from a peak of 100,000 in 2010, and the Taliban have been expanding control over the past couple years.

— jim michaels, USA TODAY, "Analysis: Trump and Pentagon search for way to end America's longest war," 14 June 2017
Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, Paul Hawken (Ed.) 10.

— east bay times, The Mercury News, "Northern California Best-sellers, week ending June 11," 14 June 2017
The department is particularly interested in seeing the weevils placed in areas that get cut off from the main lake and hold water during lake drawdowns.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Nasty little bug helping to save Louisiana lake," 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drawdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of drawdown

1918

draw down

verb \ ˌdrȯ-ˈdau̇n \

Definition of draw down

transitive verb

:to deplete by using or spending

Examples of draw down in a Sentence

I drew down my bank account just paying for tuition.

First Known Use of draw down

1949

draw down Synonyms

Synonyms

absorb, burn, consume, devour, drain, deplete, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up

Antonyms

renew, replace

Related Words

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce; eat, use; bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish; cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken; dry up, empty; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste

Near Antonyms

augment, enlarge, increase; bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; rebuild, repair, restore, revive; conserve, preserve, save

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drawdown

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draw down

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