draw on

verb

drew on; drawn on; drawing on; draws on

intransitive verb

: approach

night draws on

transitive verb

: bring on, cause

Synonyms

• beget
• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

Examples of draw on in a Sentence

the general's imprudent remarks drew on a public rebuke by the secretary of defense

night draws on, so we should hurry home

Recent Examples on the Web

Established in 2018, luxury skincare brand Augustinus Bader draws on over 30 years of research led by stem cell scientist and doctor of regenerative medicine, Professor Augustinus Bader. —Felicity Carter, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Look, one of the things about casting someone like Olivia in the role was that Hannah as a character always felt quite cold to me and was drawing on funny elements of myself, interesting things about myself. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025

The council draws on the federal agencies for its talent. —Michael Crowley, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Adeyemi's book draws inspiration from Harry Potter and other fantasy works, while its themes draw on West African mythology, Yoruba culture and the Black American experience. —Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

draw on

verb

: to come closer : approach

as night drew on