draw on

British  

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to use or exploit (a source, fund, etc)

   to draw on one's experience

2. (intr, adverb) to come near

   the time for his interview drew on

3. (tr, preposition) to withdraw (money) from (an account)

4. (tr, adverb) to put on (clothes)

5. (tr, adverb) to lead further; entice or encourage

   the prospect of nearing his goal drew him on

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draw on Idioms  

1. Approach, as in As evening draws on, we'll make our way back to the house . [First half of 1500s]

2. Put on a piece of clothing, as in She drew on her gloves . [Early 1700s]

3. Also, draw upon . Make use of something or someone. For example, This dictionary draws on many different sources , or The chairman was good at drawing upon the various members for their expertise . [Mid-1600s]

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Example Sentences

Addressed to their fans, the lyrics draw on themes of reconnection and reunion, before an almighty bass drop and the declaration: "I need the whole stadium to jump".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

An animated trailer appears to draw on the story of Korean students whose singing of the song US anthropologist Alice Fletcher recorded on a cylinder phonograph in Washington in 1896.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

But private-credit shops that run interval funds and business development companies also draw on credit lines extended by banks to cover the outflows.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Stratton, like Krishnamoorthi, announced her campaign shortly after Durbin announced his retirement, but unlike Krishnamoorthi, she didn’t have $19 million in campaign funds to draw on.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

“That’ll be like a code word to remind yourself to simmer down. Mama taught my little brother Cotton to say ‘rutabaga’ every time he gets the urge to draw on the wall.”

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor