# draw down

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/draw-down
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to use money or resources

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to take money from a fund or use up a supply of something over time.

For teachers: to deplete a resource or withdraw funds from a pre-allocated source, such as a pension or credit line.

- During his retirement, he began to draw down his savings to pay for travel.
- The corporation had to draw down its cash reserves significantly to remain solvent during the unexpected market downturn.

Usage: Transitive; the object can be placed between 'draw' and 'down' or after the particle.

### 2. to reduce military forces

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to reduce the number of soldiers or weapons in a specific area.

For teachers: to reduce the size of a military presence or the number of troops stationed in a particular region.

- The government decided to draw down troops after the peace treaty was signed.
- The administration announced a plan to draw down the military presence in the region over the next eighteen months.

Usage: Often used in political and military reporting.

### 3. to lower a physical object

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to pull something down, like a blind or a curtain, to close it.

For teachers: to lower a physical barrier or covering, such as a portcullis or window blind.

- She drew down the blinds to keep the hot afternoon sun out of the room.
- As the sun set, the shopkeeper drew down the heavy iron shutters to secure the storefront for the night.

Usage: Transitive; the object is usually a physical covering.

### 4. to attract or obtain

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to get or pull in something, especially money from a central source.

For teachers: to attract, elicit, or obtain resources such as funding or energy from a larger supply.

- The charity was able to draw down extra funding for the new youth centre.
- The local council sought to draw down European grants to revitalise the decaying industrial district.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of grants, subsidies, or institutional funding.

## Examples

- She had to draw down her savings to pay for the car repairs.
- The government plans to draw down the national oil reserves to lower fuel prices for consumers.
- Investors were advised to draw down their pension funds gradually to minimize the impact of capital gains tax during the fiscal year.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'withdraw' (general) and 'deplete' (formal); 'draw down' implies a systematic or planned reduction of a specific supply.

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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.