draw

draw

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "draw" is /drɔː/.

• /drɔː/ (single syllable)

• /d/ - voiced alveolar plosive

• /r/ - voiced alveolar approximant

• /ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought" or "law")

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Word Form Variations

• Verb:

• Base form: draw

• Third-person singular present: draws

• Present participle: drawing

• Past simple: drew

• Past participle: drawn

• Noun:

• Singular: draw

• Plural: draws

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Verb

• Definition 1: To create an image or picture by making lines and marks on a surface, typically with a pen, pencil, or crayon.

• Synonyms: sketch, illustrate, depict, render, portray

• Antonyms: erase, obscure, smudge

• Definition 2: To pull or drag something in a particular direction or towards oneself.

• Synonyms: pull, drag, haul, tow, tug

• Antonyms: push, repel, release, thrust

• Definition 3: To attract or entice someone or something to a place or a situation.

• Synonyms: attract, entice, lure, magnetize, appeal

• Antonyms: repel, deter, discourage, alienate

• Definition 4: To take out or extract something from a source or container.

• Synonyms: extract, pull out, remove, withdraw, siphon

• Antonyms: insert, deposit, replace, add

• Definition 5: To come to a conclusion or an end result, often after a period of development or consideration (e.g., "to draw a conclusion").

• Synonyms: conclude, deduce, infer, derive, formulate

• Antonyms: begin, initiate, start, postulate

Noun

• Definition 1: A situation in a game or competition where neither participant or team achieves a victory; a tie.

• Synonyms: tie, deadlock, stalemate, standoff, parity

• Antonyms: victory, defeat, win, loss

• Definition 2: Something or someone that attracts a large number of people or significant interest.

• Synonyms: attraction, appeal, lure, enticement, highlight

• Antonyms: deterrent, repulsion, turn-off, drawback

• Definition 3: The act of taking a card from a deck, as in certain card games.

• Synonyms: pick, selection, pull, take

• Antonyms: discard, return, reshuffle

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "He began to draw a detailed map of the uncharted territory, his pencil moving with practiced ease across the parchment." (From The Cartographer's Secret by Johnathan Rhys, published October 2023)

• "The author sought to draw readers into a richly imagined world where magic and science intertwined." (From a literary review of Aetherbound Chronicles in The New York Review of Books)

• Newspapers:

• "The highly anticipated football match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams sharing the points." (The Guardian)

• "Economists continue to draw parallels between the current market trends and those seen during the last recession." (The Wall Street Journal)

• Online Publications:

• "A new study aims to draw attention to the critical need for sustainable energy solutions." (From an article on ScienceDaily.com)

• "The recent exhibition proved to be a significant draw for art enthusiasts from across the globe." (From an art blog on Artsy.net)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "The director aimed to draw out the emotional complexity of the characters through subtle performances." (From a film critique on Rotten Tomatoes, December 2024, regarding "Echoes of Silence")

• Music: "Her powerful vocals draw listeners into a deeply personal narrative, making her latest album a standout." (From a review on Pitchfork.com, February 2025, concerning an album by artist "Solara")

• Video Games: "Players must carefully draw their cards, strategizing each move to outwit their opponents." (From a tutorial for the game Legends of Atheria, released April 2024)

• Television Series: "The season finale will draw all the plot lines together, promising a satisfying conclusion for fans." (From an interview with a showrunner on Entertainment Weekly Online, October 2024, discussing "Crimson Tide")

• General Public Discourse:

• "Let's draw straws to see who has to clean up after the party." (Heard in casual conversation among friends)

• "Could you please draw the curtains? It's getting too bright in here." (Common instruction in a home setting)

• "The charity event managed to draw a huge crowd, exceeding all expectations." (Spoken by an event organizer during a post-event discussion)

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10 Quotes Using Draw

1. "I sometimes think there is nothing so delightful as drawing." (Vincent van Gogh)

2. "A drawing is simply a line going for a walk." (Paul Klee)

3. "Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere." (Gilbert K. Chesterton)

4. "We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival." (Winston Churchill)

5. "One must always draw, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil." (Balthus)

6. "It is only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover, to your surprise, that you have rendered something in its true character." (Camille Pissarro)

7. "Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises." (Samuel Butler)

8. "Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation." (Henri Cartier-Bresson)

9. "Learning to draw is really a matter of learning to see – to see correctly – and that means a good deal more than merely looking with the eye." (Kimon Nicolaides)

10. "If Everton were playing down the bottom of my garden, I'd draw the curtains." (Bill Shankly)

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Etymology

The word "draw" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.

Its earliest form was "dragan," which meant "to drag, to pull, or to move by pulling." Imagine someone literally dragging something across the ground – that's the core idea. This meaning is still very much alive in words like "drawbridge" (a bridge that is pulled up) or when you "draw" water from a well (you pull it up).

Over time, the meaning of "draw" expanded. Because pulling something often results in it coming closer, the word also started to mean "to attract" or "to pull towards oneself." This is how we get meanings like "to draw a crowd" or "to draw attention."

Another key development came from the idea of pulling a line or mark across a surface. This led to the sense of "to create a picture or outline," which is one of the most common uses of "draw" today. Think of "drawing a picture."

So, from simply dragging something, the word "draw" evolved to cover attracting things and creating images, all stemming from that initial idea of pulling or extending.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Draw

• Draw a blank: To fail to remember something or to get no response.

• Draw a line in the sand: To establish a limit beyond which one will not go.

• Draw fire: To attract criticism or attack.

• Draw blood: To cause an injury, or to hurt someone emotionally.

• Draw breath: To be alive; to breathe.

• Draw the short straw: To be chosen to do an unpleasant task.

• Draw out: To encourage someone to talk, or to make something last longer.

• Draw back: To retreat or withdraw.

• Draw attention to: To highlight or make something noticeable.

• Draw a conclusion: To arrive at a judgment or decision after consideration.

• Draw a parallel: To find similarities between two things.

• Draw straws: To make a choice by lot.

• Draw upon: To make use of a resource or quality.

• Draw a bead on: To take aim at something or someone.

• Draw a distinction: To identify a difference between two things.

• Draw in one's horns: To become less assertive or less active.

• Draw the curtain on: To bring something to an end.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of draw from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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