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

This victory was as undeniable as the bond between the seniors on this team who did everything but draw up a pact to avoid a third-straight disappointment on the season’s final day. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

The goal is $100k to cover attorneys’ fees for drawing up investor documents and disclosures laying the groundwork for an offer. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 May 2026

Some medical clinics advertise microdosing Zepbound by drawing up less than the full amount in the single-use vial, but this has not been studied, and there is a risk of contaminating the vial by using it more than once. —Jody Dushay, STAT, 29 May 2026

The blueprints were drawn up by Uruguayan architect Álvaro Pérez Azar, who also sourced and restored local vintage pieces of furniture. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 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