drawing

UK: /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/ US: /ˈdrɔɪŋ/ ,(drô′ing)

From the verb draw: (⇒ conjugate)

drawing is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

draw•ing /ˈdrɔɪŋ/   n. 

1. [countable] the act of a person or thing that draws.
2. Fine Art a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea;
   a sketch or design, esp. one made with pen, pencil, or crayon:
   [countable] He had a drawing of the bank vault in his pocket.
3. the art or technique of making these:
   [uncountable] I'm terrible at drawing.
4. the selection of the winning chance sold by lottery or raffle:
   [countable] We'll have a drawing at the end of the party.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

draw•ing  (drô′ing), n. 

1. the act of a person or thing that draws.
2. Fine Art a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea, as with a pencil;
   a delineation of form without reference to color.
3. a sketch, plan, or design, esp. one made with pen, pencil, or crayon.
4. the art or technique of making these.
5. something decided by drawing lots;
   lottery.
6. the selection, or time of selection, of the winning chance or chances sold by lottery or raffle.

• 1275–1325; Middle English; see draw, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

drawing / ˈdrɔːɪŋ/ noun

1. a picture or plan made by means of lines on a surface, esp one made with a pencil or pen without the use of colour
2. a sketch, plan, or outline
3. the art of making drawings; draughtsmanship

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

draw /drɔ/   v., drew/dru/  drawn, draw•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to (cause to) move in a particular direction by or as if by pulling;
   drag: [~ + object + along]
   The horses drew the cart along.
   [~ + along]
   The car drew slowly along the street.
   [~ + object + away]
   I drew her away from the crowd.
   [no object* ~ + away]
   She drew away from me.
   [no object* ~ + in]
   The car drew in to the curb.
   [~ + object + in]
   He drew the car in to the side and stopped.
   [no object* ~ + out]
   The car drew out into the traffic.
   [~ + object + out]
   I drew the car out into the middle lane.
   [no object* ~ + off]
   The train drew off before I could signal the conductor.
2. to bring, take, or pull out, such as from a source:
   [~ + object (+ from + object ) ] to draw water from a well.
3. to cause to come toward oneself;
   attract:
   [~ + object] The sale drew large crowds.
4. to compose or create (something) in words or pictures;
   depict: [~ + object]
   to draw a lifelike portrait.
   [no object]
   I really can't draw.
5. to frame or formulate;
   figure out:
   [~ + object] to draw a distinction.
6. to suck in;
   take (a breath) in: [~ + object]
   to draw liquid through a straw.
   [~ + in + object]
   I drew in a deep breath to calm down.
7. to produce;
   bring in:
   [~ + object] The deposits draw interest.
8. Sport to bend (a bow) by pulling back the string to shoot an arrow: [~ + object]
   The archers drew their bows all at once.
   [no object]
   The archers all drew at once.
9. • [~ + object] to choose by or as if by lottery:
     He was unlucky enough to draw kitchen cleanup twice in one week.
   • [~ + object] to pick at random, as from among marked slips of paper or numbered tickets:
     to draw straws to see who wins.
   • [no object] to hold a lottery or the like:
     to draw for prizes.
10. Nautical, Naval Terms (of a vessel) to need (a specific depth of water) to float:
    [~ + object] The boat draws six feet.
11. Sport, Games to finish (a contest) with neither side winning;
    tie: [~ + object]
    They drew the game at 37-37.
    [no object]
    They drew at 37-37.
12. Games to take or be given (a playing card) from the pack:
    [~ + object] I drew two sevens.
13. to steep (tea) in boiling water:
    [~ + object] She drew a nice pot of tea for us.
14. to move or pass, esp. slowly or continuously:
    [no object] The day draws near.
15. to take out a weapon for action: [~ + object]
    He drew his gun quickly and fired.
    [no object]
    She drew and fired in one smooth motion.
16. draw away, [no object] to move farther ahead:
    One runner drew away from the pack.
17. draw in:
    • [~ + object + in] to cause to take part:
      This is your fight; don't draw me in.
    • to make a sketch or drawing of: [~ + in + object]
      to draw in a human figure.
      [~ + object + in]
      Draw it in with charcoal.
18. draw off, to move back or away: [~ + off + object]
    He drew off the enemy.
    [~ + object + off]
    He drew the enemy off.
19. draw on:
    • [no object] to come nearer;
      approach:
      Winter was drawing on.
    • to clothe oneself in: [~ + on + object]
      to draw on one's gloves.
      [~ + object + on]
      He drew his gloves on.
    • [~ + on + object] to use esp. as a source:
      The newspaper article draws heavily on gossip.
20. draw out:
    • to pull out;
      remove: [~ + out + object]
      The dentist drew out the tooth.
      [~ + object + out]
      The dentist drew the tooth out.
    • to stretch out the time of;
      lengthen: [~ + out + object]
      They told me to draw out my speech for as long as possible.
      [~ + object + out]
      I drew it out for as long as I could.
    • [~ + object + out] to persuade to speak:
      The police carefully drew the child out and learned what had happened.
    • [~ + out + object] to get (information) from someone:
      We finally drew out the truth from her.
    • to take (money) from a place of deposit: [~ + out + object]
      We drew out $5,000 as the down payment.
      [~ + object + out]
      We drew some money out of our savings.
21. draw up:
    • to write in legal form: [~ + up + object]
      to draw up a contract.
      [~ + object + up]
      We drew the agreement up quickly.
    • to put into position;
      arrange in order: [no object]
      The army drew up into its positions and waited.
      [~ + object + up]
      The general drew them up to the front lines.
    • [~ + oneself + up] to make (oneself) stand as straight or as tall as one can:
      He drew himself up to his full height.
    • to bring or come to a stop;
      halt: [no object]
      The bus drew up to the curb.
      [~ + object + up]
      The driver drew the bus up to the curb.

n. [countable]

22. an act of drawing.
23. something that attracts customers, etc.:
    That famous movie star is a big Hollywood draw.
24. something chosen at random, as a lot or chance:
    a lottery draw.
25. a contest that ends in a tie:
    The game ended in a draw.

Idioms

26. Idioms beat someone to the draw, to react more quickly than (an opponent):
    We beat them to the draw and got our proposal in first.
27. Idioms be the luck of the draw, to be the result of chance:
    It was the luck of the draw that I went first.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

draw  (drô), v., drew, drawn, draw•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to cause to move in a particular direction by or as if by a pulling force;
   pull;
   drag (often fol. by along, away, in, out, or off).
2. to bring, take, or pull out, as from a receptacle or source:
   to draw water from a well.
3. to bring toward oneself or itself, as by inherent force or influence;
   attract:
   The concert drew a large audience.
4. to sketch (someone or something) in lines or words;
   delineate;
   depict:
   to draw a vase with charcoal; to draw the comedy's characters with skill.
5. Fine Art to compose or create (a picture) in lines.
6. to mark or lay out;
   trace:
   to draw perpendicular lines.
7. to frame or formulate:
   to draw a distinction.
8. to write out in legal form (sometimes fol. by up):
   Draw up the contract.
9. to inhale or suck in:
   to draw liquid through a straw.
10. to derive or use, as from a source:
    to draw inspiration from Shakespeare.
11. to deduce;
    infer:
    to draw a conclusion.
12. to get, take, or receive, as from a source:
    to draw interest on a savings account; to draw a salary of $600 a week.
13. Business to withdraw funds from a drawing account, esp. against future commissions on sales.
14. to produce;
    bring in:
    The deposits draw interest.
15. to disembowel:
    to draw a turkey.
16. to drain:
    to draw a pond.
17. to pull out to full or greater length;
    make by attenuating;
    stretch:
    to draw filaments of molten glass.
18. Sport to bend (a bow) by pulling back its string in preparation for shooting an arrow.
19. to choose or to have assigned to one at random, by or as by picking an unseen number, item, etc.:
    Let's draw straws to see who has to wash the car.
20. Metallurgy to form or reduce the sectional area of (a wire, tube, etc.) by pulling through a die.
21. to wrinkle or shrink by contraction.
22. Medicine to cause to discharge:
    to draw an abscess by a poultice.
23. to obtain (rations, clothing, equipment, weapons, or ammunition) from an issuing agency, as an army quartermaster.
24. Nautical, Naval Terms (of a vessel) to need (a specific depth of water) to float:
    She draws six feet.
25. Sport, Games to leave (a contest) undecided;
    finish with neither side winning, as in a tie.
26. Games [Cards.]
    • to take or be dealt (a card or cards) from the pack.
    • [Bridge.] to remove the outstanding cards in (a given suit) by leading that suit:
      He had to draw spades first in order to make the contract.
27. Sport, Games [Billiards.] to cause (a cue ball) to recoil after impact by giving it a backward spin on the stroke.
28. Dialect Terms [Northeastern U.S.] (chiefly New Eng.). to haul;
    cart.
29. Sport [Hunting.] to search (a covert) for game.
30. Sport, Games [Cricket.] to play (a ball) with a bat held at an angle in order to deflect the ball between the wicket and the legs.
31. Sport, Games [Curling.] to slide (the stone) gently.
32. to steep (tea) in boiling water.
33. Ceramics to form or shape (glass) as it comes from the furnace by stretching.

v.i. 

34. to exert a pulling, moving, or attracting force:
    A sail draws by being properly trimmed and filled with wind.
35. to move or pass, esp. slowly or continuously, as under a pulling force (often fol. by on, off, out, etc.):
    The day draws near.
36. to take out a sword, pistol, etc., for action.
37. to hold a drawing, lottery, or the like:
    to draw for prizes.
38. Fine Art to sketch or to trace figures;
    create a picture or depict by sketching.
39. Fine Art to be skilled in or practice the art of sketching:
    I can't paint, but I can draw.
40. to shrink or contract (often fol. by up).
41. to make a demand (usually fol. by on or upon):
    to draw on one's imagination.
42. Medicine
    • to act as an irritant;
      cause blisters.
    • to cause blood, pus, or the like to gather at a specific point.
43. to produce or permit a draft, as a pipe or flue.
44. to leave a contest undecided;
    tie.
45. Sport [Hunting.] (of a hound)
    • to search a covert for game.
    • to follow a game animal by its scent.
46. to attract customers, an audience, etc.:
    Our newspaper advertisement drew very well.
47. to pull back the string of a bow in preparation for shooting an arrow.
48. draw ahead:
    • to gradually pass something moving in the same direction.
    • Naval Terms [Naut.] (of the wind) to blow from a direction closer to that in which a vessel is moving;
      haul forward. Cf. veer¹ (def. 2b).
49. draw away:
    • to move or begin to move away:
      He drew his hand away from the hot stove.
    • to move farther ahead:
      The lead runner gradually drew away from his competitor.
50. draw down, to deplete or be depleted through use or consumption:
    to draw down crude-oil supplies.
51. draw in:
    • to cause to take part or enter, esp. unwittingly:
      I heard them debating the point, but I avoided being drawn in.
    • to make a rough sketch of:
      to draw in a person's figure against the landscape background.
52. draw off, to move back or away.
53. draw on:
    • to come nearer;
      approach:
      He sensed winter drawing on.
    • to clothe oneself in:
      She drew on her cape and gloves.
    • Naval Terms [Naut.] (of a vessel) to gain on (another vessel).
    • to utilize or make use of, esp. as a source:
      The biography has drawn heavily on personal interviews.
54. Idioms draw oneself up, to assume an erect posture.
55. draw out:
    • to pull out;
      remove.
    • to prolong;
      lengthen.
    • to persuade to speak:
      You'll find she's quite interesting if you take the trouble to draw her out.
    • Naval Terms [Naut.] (of a vessel) to move away from (sometimes fol. by from):
      The boat drew out from the wharf.
    • to take (money) from a place of deposit:
      She drew her money out of the bank and invested it in bonds.
56. draw up:
    • to devise or formulate;
      draft, esp. in legal form or as a formal proposal:
      to draw up a will.
    • to put into position;
      arrange in order or formation:
      The officer drew up his men.
    • to bring or come to a stop;
      halt:
      Their car drew up at the curb.

n. 

57. an act of drawing.
58. something that attracts customers, an audience, etc.
59. something that is moved by being drawn, as the movable part of a drawbridge.
60. something that is chosen or drawn at random, as a lot or chance.
61. drawing (defs. 5, 6).
62. a contest that ends in a tie;
    an undecided contest.
63. Sport Also called draw play. [Football.] a play in which the quarterback fades as if to pass and then hands the ball to a back, usually the fullback, who is running toward the line of scrimmage.
64. Games [Poker.]
    • a card or cards taken or dealt from the pack.
    • See draw poker. 
65. Communications, Geography [Physical Geog.]
    • a small, natural drainageway with a shallow bed;
      gully.
    • the dry bed of a stream.
    • Dialect Terms [Chiefly Western U.S.] a coulee;
      ravine.
66. Sport the pull necessary to draw a bow to its full extent.
67. Business an amount regularly drawn, as from a drawing account.
68. Business a fund, as an expense account or credit line, from which money may be withdrawn when needed.
69. Time [Horol.] the tendency of a tooth of an escape wheel to force toward the center of the wheel a pallet engaging with it.
70. Idioms beat to the draw, to react quicker than an opponent.
71. Idioms luck of the draw. See luck (def. 7).

• bef. 900; Middle English drawen, Old English dragan; cognate with Old Norse draga to draw, German tragen to carry; compare drag

draw′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. tug, tow.
  Draw, drag, haul, pull imply causing movement of an object toward one by exerting force upon it. To draw is to move by a force, in the direction from which the force is exerted:
  A magnet draws iron to it.
  To drag is to draw with the force necessary to overcome friction between the object drawn and the surface on which it rests:
  to drag a sled to the top of a hill.
  To haul is to transport a heavy object slowly by mechanical force or with sustained effort:
  to haul a large boat across a portage.
  To pull is to draw or tug, exerting varying amounts of force according to the effort needed:
  to pull out an eyelash; to pull fighting dogs apart.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

draw / drɔː/ verb (draws, drawing, drew, drawn)

1. to cause (a person or thing) to move towards or away by pulling
2. to bring, take, or pull (something) out, as from a drawer, holster, etc
3. (transitive) to extract or pull or take out: to draw teeth, to draw a card from a pack
4. (transitive) often followed by off: to take (liquid) out of a cask, keg, tank, etc, by means of a tap
5. (intransitive) to move, go, or proceed, esp in a specified direction: to draw alongside
6. (transitive) to attract or elicit: to draw a crowd, draw attention
7. (transitive) to cause to flow: to draw blood
8. to depict or sketch (a form, figure, picture, etc) in lines, as with a pencil or pen, esp without the use of colour; delineate
9. (transitive) to make, formulate, or derive: to draw conclusions, comparisons, parallels
10. (transitive) to write (a legal document) in proper form
11. (transitive) sometimes followed by in: to suck or take in (air, liquid, etc): to draw a breath
12. (intransitive) to induce or allow a draught to carry off air, smoke, etc: the flue draws well
13. (transitive) to take or receive from a source: to draw money from the bank
14. (transitive) to earn: draw interest
15. (transitive) to write out (a bill of exchange or promissory note): to draw a cheque
16. (transitive) to choose at random: to draw lots
17. (transitive) to reduce the diameter of (a wire or metal rod) by pulling it through a die
18. (transitive) to shape (a sheet of metal or glass) by rolling, by pulling it through a die, or by stretching
19. to bend (a bow) by pulling the string
20. to steep (tea) or (of tea) to steep in boiling water
21. (transitive) to disembowel: draw a chicken
22. (transitive) to cause (pus, blood, etc) to discharge from an abscess or wound
23. (intransitive) (of two teams, contestants, etc) to finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc; tie
24. (transitive) to keep leading a suit in order to force out (all outstanding cards)
25. draw trumps ⇒ to play the trump suit until the opponents have none left
26. (transitive) to cause (the cue ball) to spin back after a direct impact with another ball by applying backspin when making the stroke
27. (transitive) to search (a place) in order to find wild animals, game, etc, for hunting
28. to cause (a golf ball) to move with a controlled right-to-left trajectory or (of a golf ball) to veer gradually from right to left
29. (transitive) to deliver (the stone) gently
30. (transitive) (of a vessel) to require (a certain depth) in which to float
31. draw a blank ⇒ to get no results from something
32. draw and quarter ⇒ to disembowel and dismember (a person) after hanging
33. draw stumps ⇒ to close play, as by pulling out the stumps
34. draw the line ⇒
    See line151
35. draw the short straw ⇒
    See short straw
36. draw the shot ⇒ to deliver the bowl in such a way that it approaches the jack

noun

1. the act of drawing
2. a sum of money advanced to finance anticipated expenses
3. an event, occasion, act, etc, that attracts a large audience
4. a raffle or lottery
5. something taken or chosen at random, as a ticket in a raffle or lottery
6. a contest or game ending in a tie
7. a small natural drainage way or gully
8. a current of air that carries smoke, etc from a fire up a chimney

Etymology: Old English dragan; related to Old Norse draga; Old Frisian draga, Old Saxon dragan, Old High German tragan to carry