# drafted

/ˈdɹæftɪd/ (US) · /dɹˈɑːftɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drafted
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wrote a first version

verb · CEFR B2

wrote the first version of a document or plan.

For teachers: prepared a preliminary version of a text, document, or legislative bill.

- She drafted the email on Monday but waited until Tuesday to send it.
- The legal team drafted the initial contract over the weekend, ensuring all liability clauses were clearly defined before the negotiation began.

### 2. forced to join the army

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

ordered by the government to join the military.

For teachers: conscripted into military service by official mandate.

- My grandfather was drafted into the army during the war.
- Thousands of young men were drafted into service during the conflict, fundamentally altering the demographic makeup of the workforce for a generation.

Usage: often used in the passive voice: 'to be drafted'.

### 3. selected for a team

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

chosen by a professional sports team to play for them.

For teachers: selected as a player for a professional sports team through a formal draft process.

- He was drafted by a famous basketball team right after college.
- The star quarterback was drafted in the first round, carrying the heavy expectations of a city desperate for a championship title.

### 4. depth of a ship

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes how deep a ship sits in the water.

For teachers: referring to the depth of water a vessel requires to float, typically used with modifiers like 'deep' or 'shallow'.

- The ship was deeply drafted and could not enter the shallow harbour.
- Because the vessel was so deeply drafted when fully loaded, the captain had to wait for high tide to navigate the estuary safely.

Usage: usually follows a modifier like 'deeply' or 'shallowly'.

## Examples

- I drafted a quick email to my boss this morning.
- The legal team drafted the contract over the weekend so that both parties could review the terms on Monday.
- While the final policy was polished by the committee, the original version was drafted by a junior researcher who had spent months gathering the necessary data.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.