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

Whether legislators draw up new legislation regarding the sale and use of THC remains to be seen. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

Alex Hannum, the Hawks coach who had to put himself into the game because of his team’s foul trouble, drew up a wild play in a desperate attempt to force a third OT. —The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 22 June 2025

Architects had drawn up plans and construction was about to begin when an inspection found asbestos in the building, according to YoloCares CEO Craig Dresang. —Jack Rodriquez-Vars, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025

That commission will draw up the county’s home-rule charter, which will then make its way onto the November ballot. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 21 May 2025

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