English Reference

Word

drawn

US/ˈdɹɔn/

UK/dɹˈɔːn/

Definitions

01past participle of draw

A2 · Elementary

v. the form of the verb 'draw' used with 'have' or 'be'.

v. the past participle of 'draw', used in perfect tenses and passive constructions to denote depiction, traction, or attraction.

“The artist has drawn many beautiful portraits of the local people.”

“By the time the gallery opened, the curator had already drawn up a list of potential buyers for the new collection.”

02looking tired or ill

C1 · Advanced Literary

adj. looking very tired, worried, or thin, especially in the face.

adj. appearing haggard, strained, or exhausted, typically due to stress, lack of sleep, or physical pain.

“His face looked pale and drawn after working all night on the project.”

“The refugees appeared drawn and weary after their arduous journey across the border, their faces etched with the strain of recent events.”

Synonyms

haggardstrainedgaunt

Antonyms

03tied or undecided

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports

adj. describing a game or competition where nobody won.

adj. referring to a contest or match that has ended in a tie or remains undecided.

“The match ended in a drawn game, so they had to play again next week.”

“Despite several close attempts in the final minutes, the teams left the field after a drawn battle that satisfied neither side.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04pulled or moved

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. pulled or moved by something else, like a carriage pulled by horses.

adj. moved by traction or pulled by a specified power source; frequently used in compound adjectives.

“The tourists enjoyed a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the park.”

“The historical society maintains several original horse-drawn vehicles to demonstrate how goods were transported before the advent of the internal combustion engine.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

Morphologically draw + -n.

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

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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/drawn

English Reference