draw out

verb

drew out; drawn out; drawing out; draws out

transitive verb

1

: remove, extract

2

: to extend beyond a minimum in time : protract sense 1

3

: to cause to speak freely

a reporter's ability to draw a person out

Synonyms of draw out

• lengthen
• increase
• extend
• stretch
• drag (out)
• prolong

Examples of draw out in a Sentence

the actor refused to draw out the interview any further

Recent Examples on the Web

Pluribus finds Gilligan tapping into the eerie sensibility of his past work on The X-Files, where evocative sci-fi concepts were used to draw out big ideas and explorations of character. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025

So, it's really drawn out of my own personal experience. —Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

The collaboration between certain MAGA influencers and animal-rights activists has drawn out the most confrontational tendencies within each camp. —Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

Cubs manager Craig Counsell used three main adjectives to describe the roster — athletic, experienced and instinctual — while empowering his coaching staff to draw out those strengths. —Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for draw out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

draw out

verb

1

: to cause to last longer than usual

2

: to cause or encourage to speak freely

tried to draw the shy child out