# drawn

/ˈdɹɔn/ (US) · /dɹˈɔːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drawn
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. past participle of draw

verb · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. looking tired or ill

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. tied or undecided

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a game or competition where nobody won.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. pulled or moved

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The curtains are drawn to keep the room dark.
- The detective felt drawn to the old house, sensing that the answer to the mystery lay inside.
- Having been drawn into the debate against her better judgment, she found herself defending a position she had previously considered indefensible during the earlier committee meetings.

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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.