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

See Examples For:

draw on

They draw on reporters’ own experiences, like the one about a criminal enterprise run by monkeys.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

That would leave you with roughly $300,000 to draw on over your lifetime.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

A majority are women, many of whom draw on their experience as parents; this matters because people often seek health information from others whose experiences resemble their own.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

While some situations may sound farcical, Brewis said he had plenty of real life examples to draw on as inspiration.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

At the part where Soledad’s mother dies and I have to cry, I draw on the valley of tears inside me.

From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau