draw up

verb

drew up; drawn up; drawing up; draws up

transitive verb

1

: to bring (a body of troops) into array

2

: to prepare a draft or version of

draw up plans

3

: to bring to a halt

4

: to straighten (oneself) to an erect posture especially as an assertion of dignity or resentment

intransitive verb

: to come to a halt

the car drew up at the door

Synonyms of draw up

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• pull up
• check
• stay

Examples of draw up in a Sentence

he drew up his horse outside the tavern

drew up the troops into a line along the ridge

Recent Examples on the Web

In normal times, Ramadan Friday prayers at Al Aqsa can draw up to 200,000. —Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

Wish lists are being drawn up with urgency, led by industry heads pressing for clear action in the first 100 days. —Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 16 Feb. 2026

When serious plans were drawn up for the conquest of space in the late 1940s by the likes of Werner Von Braun, the question of astronauts had a simple and obvious answer – of course they'd be needed. —New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2026

This is a far more reliable blueprint for a party’s resurrection than anything drawn up at a think tank. —Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for draw up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

draw up

verb

1

: to arrange (as troops) in order

2

: to prepare a draft or version of

draw up plans

3

: to straighten (oneself) to an erect posture

drew himself up angrily and left the room

4

: to bring or come to a stop

the car drew up at the door