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

• arrest
• bring up
• catch
• check
• fetch up
• halt
• hold up
• pull up
• stall
• stay
• still
• stop

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

But many others still flocked to North and Central Texas, which had some of the longest totality times in the country and were expected to draw up to a million travelers — and a sizable corresponding boom in business. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024

In the second, after Alabama took an early lead and the crowd began thinking monumental upset, Connecticut coach Dan Hurley drew up a play during a timeout to work the ball inside to his 7-2 guy for an easy basket. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

The government has been drawing up plans to potentially bring Thames into special administration, streamlining its insolvency rules for the industry. —Jessica Shankleman, Fortune Europe, 28 Mar. 2024

Prosecutors and Biden’s lawyers had drawn up what’s known as a diversion agreement last summer, which called for Biden to comply with certain terms, like not using firearms or drugs. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Global military spending hits record $2.2 trillion amid multiple wars NATO, meanwhile, began its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, drawing up new battle plans that are more squarely focused on deterring Russia and defending every inch of NATO territory from day one should Moscow try anything. —Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024

The plan is similar to a proposal drawn up by opposition figures in Haiti and by three former Caribbean prime ministers, a group referred to as the Eminent Persons Group, charged with finding a solution to the political impasse. —Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

So in August, Diamond’s stepfather drew up a flier advertising the 1996 Ford Mustang Cobra clone for sale. —Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024

Like Michigan, Wisconsin has drawn up legislation that would bring back its program. —Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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