drawing
Americannoun
-
the act of a person or thing that draws.
-
a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea, as with a pencil; a delineation of form without reference to color.
-
a sketch, plan, or design, especially one made with pen, pencil, or crayon.
-
the art or technique of making these.
-
something decided by drawing lots; lottery.
-
the selection, or time of selection, of the winning chance or chances sold by lottery or raffle.
noun
-
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
-
a sketch, plan, or outline
-
the art of making drawings; draughtsmanship
Other Word 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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Week 3 Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
“I’ve tried welding, woodworking, painting, drawing, glass-blowing, lampworking and working with clay,” she says about working with her hands.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Only a dozen minutes of normal time remained in this season to end all seasons - Celtic were drawing, which meant that Hearts were winning.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
These factors have been crucial in drawing international capital to the lenders in recent years amid global market volatility, the analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
As in Zimbabwe's lucrative mining sector, Chinese companies dominate tobacco production, drawing criticism of a near-monopoly that contributes to price stagnation.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
The first time Pili had read him the story, Danny had started drawing flowers all over the place.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
