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Synonyms

drawing

American  
[draw-ing] / ˈdrɔ ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that draws.

  2. a graphic representation by lines of an object or idea, as with a pencil; a delineation of form without reference to color.

  3. a sketch, plan, or design, especially one made with pen, pencil, or crayon.

  4. the art or technique of making these.

  5. something decided by drawing lots; lottery.

  6. the selection, or time of selection, of the winning chance or chances sold by lottery or raffle.

drawing British  
/ ˈdrɔːɪŋ /

noun

  1. 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

  2. a sketch, plan, or outline

  3. the art of making drawings; draughtsmanship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • self-drawing noun

Etymology

Origin of drawing

A Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; draw, -ing 1

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.

The metro area the state’s capital is drawing buyers from Boston and New York City, and it doesn’t have enough housing stock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

As Christians prepare to observe Easter, remarks from Paula White — a longtime spiritual adviser to Donald Trump — are drawing sharp criticism, including from within Christian communities.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

The Fire Recovery Fund is being administered by Glasgow City Council, drawing on funding from the Scottish government's £10m commitment to support the recovery from the fire.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

“News flow about increasingly frequent satellite launches and increasingly useful LEO satellite-based network services are rightly drawing investors’ attention,” Stein wrote in a note to clients this week, referring to low-Earth-orbit satellites.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

I look at the drawing for the nearest symbol.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

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.