drawing board

noun

1

: a board used as a base for drafting on paper

2

: a planning stage

a project still on the drawing board

Examples of drawing board in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compare that to the F-35 Lightning II, which took over 13 years to go from drawing board to first flight. — New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025

After trying all three, stick with the one that worked best for you (or go back to drawing board). — Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Winter Park is back to the drawing board in charting a path forward for its former library, which sits within shouting distance of Park Avenue. — Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2023

The San Marcos Police Department union and city council are heading back to the drawing board after a surprising vote Tuesday night to rescind their most recent Meet and Confer agreement. — Annie Blanks, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drawing board

• checkerboard
• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overboard
• overlord
• paperboard
• plasterboard

Kids Definition

drawing board

noun

1

: a board on which paper for drawing can be fastened

2

: a planning stage

his project was still on the drawing board