Phrasal verb
draw in
Definition
phrasal verb. to attract someone or make them feel involved in a situation or story.
phrasal verb. to attract or involve someone in a situation, activity, or narrative, often in a compelling or gradual manner. The verb is transitive in this sense.
Examples
“The bright colors of the shop window draw people in.”
“The film's slow, atmospheric opening is designed to draw the audience in before the action starts.”
“The author masterfully uses first-person narration to draw in the reader, creating an immediate sense of intimacy and shared experience.”
Examples
simple
“The bright colors of the shop window draw people in.”
contextual
“The film's slow, atmospheric opening is designed to draw the audience in before the action starts.”
complex
“The author masterfully uses first-person narration to draw in the reader, creating an immediate sense of intimacy and shared experience.”
Usage
When the object is a pronoun like 'me' or 'them', it must go between 'draw' and 'in'.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'attract' to show how 'draw in' implies a deeper level of engagement or being 'pulled' into a story.
Pitfall
The movie draws in me.
The movie draws me in.
If the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
in
Separability
optional
Pattern
draw + (object) + in
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- 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
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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