1
as in recruiting
to pick especially for required military service
my grandfather was drafted to fight in a war that he opposed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preparing
to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form
draft a letter to the local newspaper giving your views on the problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pumping
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
remember to draft the water from the pool so that we can close it up for the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drafting
The writer watched the Korean original just once and then began drafting the remake from his Brooklyn apartment in early 2020, just as New York entered its first full COVID lockdown.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
The question begged repeating after drafting Allen in 2023, signing Parkinson as a free agent in 2024 and then again this summer after the Rams used their top draft pick on Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round in April.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
On the surface, that reflects poorly on a Patriots offensive line that was reshaped this offseason by drafting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson, and signing right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury to join right guard Mike Onwenu.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Harvard Law students actively participate in the clinic’s work, including drafting briefs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Even so, Israel was involved in drafting the resolution and is still trying to influence its wording, the official told CNN.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Then Parcells opted to select a left tackle (Jake Long) instead of drafting Matt Ryan with the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly
november 4, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
With the proposal to enter an agreement approved, the city and the developers will now go to work on drafting up two agreements.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2025
The franchise might be best served to play out the year and hit the 2026 draft, which is comprised of a handful of promising QB prospects, with the intention of drafting a rookie and building for the future.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
The question begged repeating after drafting Allen in 2023, signing Parkinson as a free agent in 2024 and then again this summer after the Rams used their top draft pick on Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round in April.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
On the surface, that reflects poorly on a Patriots offensive line that was reshaped this offseason by drafting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson, and signing right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury to join right guard Mike Onwenu.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Harvard Law students actively participate in the clinic’s work, including drafting briefs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Even so, Israel was involved in drafting the resolution and is still trying to influence its wording, the official told CNN.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Then Parcells opted to select a left tackle (Jake Long) instead of drafting Matt Ryan with the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly
november 4, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
With the proposal to enter an agreement approved, the city and the developers will now go to work on drafting up two agreements.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2025
The franchise might be best served to play out the year and hit the 2026 draft, which is comprised of a handful of promising QB prospects, with the intention of drafting a rookie and building for the future.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drafting
Verb
-
Still, the study’s findings challenge the emphasis on early signs of high performance that elite schools, conservatories and youth sport academies often look for when recruiting talent.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Players with lots of recruiting stars next to their names and coaches with lots of zeroes on their paychecks.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Packers are preparing for a wild-card game Saturday night in Chicago.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Listen to Glaser discuss preparing to host the 2026 Golden Globes on Ripa's podcast episode above.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To this day, as much fun as Johnson has with his offensive artistry, little gets his blood pumping like bringing a mauling running game to life.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
Chip Lamarca,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a newcomer to composing and arranging for strings, Simon benefitted greatly by working with a group readily available for consultation and collaboration.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Azar says the whole process only takes her 10 minutes, from searching for the email, composing it, to hitting send.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Indoor poinsettias should be repotted out of poorly draining pots as soon as possible, while outdoor plants should only be transplanted outside when temperatures are above 50°F.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Add a base layer of well-draining potting mix to the bottom of the new pot, about a few inches deep.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As well as prohibiting establishments from refusing to accept cash, the bill prevents businesses from levying additional fees or surcharges on cash payments compared to cashless transactions.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Voters could face a decision to approve levying a 1% sales tax on unincorporated areas of Yolo County or a countywide 1% sales tax.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Born to a long line of musicians and entertainers (their great-grandparents were vaudevillians), Gunnar and Matt started writing music at age 6, shooting to fame in their own right after launching hard rock duo Nelson in the early 1980s.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Billy Bob Thornton and Ariana Greenblatt are set to star in Somedays, a feature film that Brian Klugman is writing and directing.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Your can reuse up to 10 times before emptying and refilling the socks with fresh litter.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Its first season’s defining set piece plunged the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s emergency department into the aftermath of a mass shooting, an act of narrative escalation that felt like the writers’ room emptying its reserves.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drafting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drafting. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share