draw up

British  

verb

1. to come or cause to come to a halt

2. (tr)

   1. to prepare a draft of (a legal document)

   2. to formulate and write out in appropriate form

      to draw up a contract

3. (used reflexively) to straighten oneself

4. to form or arrange (a body of soldiers, etc) in order or formation

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draw up Idioms  

1. Compose or write out in a set form, as in The lawyer drew up the contract . [First half of 1600s]

2. Arrange in order or formation, put in position, as in The band-leader drew up his players , or The officer drew up the troops . [c. 1600]

3. Bring or come to a halt, as in The car drew up to the curb . [Early 1800s]

4. draw oneself up . Assume an erect posture to express dignity or indignation. For example, She drew herself up and protested . [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

Ask someone with imagination to draw up a workforce housing model.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

To create a narrative around the home, Gaetjens and Wines are now working with multiple architects to draw up plans for potential renovations that would help to give the property a much more modern feel.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Various branches of the military draw up plans for all sorts of contingencies in case the president thinks about ordering one.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

They demanded that he draw up a new plan for ICE to carry out targeted enforcement, an approach Lyons had been advocating all along, according to ICE officials, but that the pair had previously eschewed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Marshall was furious with the absent Stuart, was ready to draw up court-martial papers.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

Related Words

• formulate
• prepare
• write