drawing
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that draws.
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a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea, as with a pencil; a delineation of form without reference to color.
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a sketch, plan, or design, especially one made with pen, pencil, or crayon.
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the art or technique of making these.
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something decided by drawing lots; lottery.
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the selection, or time of selection, of the winning chance or chances sold by lottery or raffle.
noun
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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
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a sketch, plan, or outline
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the art of making drawings; draughtsmanship
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of drawing
A Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at draw, -ing 1
Explanation
A drawing is a sketch or a picture, usually made with a pencil or pen. You might use extra class time after you've finished a test to make a quick drawing of your teacher sleeping at his desk. A drawing is an artwork that's not a painting — it's made of sketched lines and represents some object, person, or form. An architect might begin working on a project for a house design by doing some drawings, and a kindergartener might proudly hang a drawing of her family on the refrigerator. Another kind of drawing is the act of pulling, which is also the earliest meaning of the word.
Vocabulary lists containing drawing
Lessons 3–4
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Week 3 Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since the Amtrak cards weren’t a good fit, my son went back to the drawing board and looked exclusively at student cards.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
The end was drawing near in a nine-year fight for justice, in a case of modern slavery on a Scottish fishing trawler.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Sagan and his team mapped out flight paths for placeholders, based on stadium locations and rough dates, long before the official drawing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
SpaceX’s record-setting IPO is anticipated with a projected $1.8 trillion valuation, drawing both bullish and bearish investor views.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
A clatter of hooves and wagon wheels drawing up to the side of the house snapped her attention back to my laundry, and she finished transferring it into her basket.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
