English Reference

Word

draft

US/ˈdɹæft/

UK/dɹˈɑːft/

Definitions

01preliminary text

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a first version of a piece of writing that will be changed or improved later.

n. a preliminary version of a written work, such as a manuscript, report, or legal document, intended for further revision.

“I need to finish the first draft of my essay by tomorrow morning.”

“The legal team submitted a rough draft of the contract for review, noting several clauses that required further negotiation.”

Antonyms

final copy

02current of air

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English

n. a cold current of air that comes into a room or vehicle.

n. a current of cool air in a confined space, typically caused by a lack of insulation or an open window.

“Can you close the window? There is a cold draft in here.”

“The old Victorian house was notorious for its drafts, which made the living room nearly impossible to heat during the winter months.”

Usage

Often spelled 'draught' in British English.

03military conscription

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Politics American English

n. a system where the government forces people to join the military.

n. compulsory recruitment for military service, often determined by a lottery or specific selection criteria.

“During the war, many young men were called up by the draft.”

“The government faced widespread protests after announcing the reinstatement of the draft to bolster the standing army.”

04sports selection

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports American English

n. a system where professional teams take turns choosing new players.

n. a process in professional sports where teams select players from a pool of eligible candidates, typically from colleges or junior leagues.

“The young quarterback was the first pick in the annual draft.”

“The team's strategy for the upcoming draft focused on strengthening their defensive line with high-potential college graduates.”

05nautical depth

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Nautical Technical

n. the depth of water a ship needs to stay afloat.

n. the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull, determining the minimum depth of water required for navigation.

“The ship has a deep draft, so it cannot enter the shallow harbour.”

“The captain expressed concern that the vessel's draft was too great for the silted canal, risking a grounding at low tide.”

Synonyms

06to write a version

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic

v. to write the first version of something.

v. to prepare a preliminary version of a text or plan, often involving the structuring of core arguments or data.

“She spent the afternoon drafting a letter to the city council.”

“The committee spent several weeks drafting the new policy, ensuring that every department's concerns were addressed in the final document.”

Antonyms

07to select for a role

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to choose someone for a specific job or task, often when they did not volunteer.

v. to select or recruit an individual for a specific purpose, role, or duty, often in a formal or compulsory capacity.

“He was drafted into the committee because of his expertise in finance.”

“Despite his reluctance to enter politics, he was eventually drafted by the party to run for the vacant senate seat.”

Synonyms

recruitselectconscript

08drinks on tap

B1 · Intermediate American English

adj. describing beer or other drinks served from a large container rather than a bottle.

adj. referring to beverages, particularly beer, drawn from a cask or keg through a tap system.

“The bar has several local draft beers for you to try.”

“The establishment prides itself on its selection of draft ales, which are maintained at a precise temperature to preserve their flavour profile.”

Synonyms

on tapdraught

Antonyms

09pulling loads

C2 · Proficiency Technical

adj. describing animals used for pulling heavy things like carts or ploughs.

adj. referring to animals, such as horses or oxen, bred and used for pulling heavy loads or agricultural machinery.

“Draft horses are much larger and stronger than racing horses.”

“The farm still employs draft animals for certain tasks where modern tractors would damage the delicate soil structure.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “draft” in context.

Verb

01. feel a cold draft

“I could feel a cold draft coming from the gap under the front door.”

verb + adj + noun

02. submit the final draft

“The students were required to submit the final draft of their thesis by Friday.”

verb + adj + noun

03. write a rough draft

“I need to write a rough draft of my essay before I can start the final version.”

verb + adj + noun

Adjective

04. military draft

“During the war, many young men were called up through the military draft.”

adj + noun

05. preliminary draft

“The committee reviewed the preliminary draft of the new policy.”

adj + noun

Noun

06. draft of the report

“She spent all afternoon working on the first draft of the report.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

07. in the draft

“Several errors were found in the draft, so we had to revise it.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“As part of its body camera program, Canada's RCMP recently completed a pilot project using AI to draft police reports.”
Phys.org 29 Aug 2026
“Then the Canadian side noticed something in the details of the draft agreement.”
Toronto Sun 26 Aug 2026

Etymology

A phonetic spelling of draught (compare laughter), from Middle English draught, draght (“that which is pulled; that which is drawn up, a design”), from Old English dreaht, dræht, from Proto-West Germanic drahti, drahtu, from Proto-Germanic *drahtuz (“a pulling, drawing”). Cognate with Dutch dracht, German Tracht, Icelandic dráttur. By surface analysis, draw + -t.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Idioms

Domains

MedicineNauticalPoliticsSports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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