draft

DRAFT/dɹæft/UKDRAHFT/dɹɑːft/

Pluraldrafts

Verbdrafts, drafting, drafted

UK spellingdraught · for air, drinks on tap and a ship's depth

33 meanings of draft

Practice

1
nouncountable
An early version of a piece of writing, a drawing, or a plan, before it is finished.
Like a practice drawing you make before the real picture.
I wrote a rough draft of my story before the final one.
Her first draft had several mistakes she fixed later.
UsageSay a first draft or a rough draft.
Similarversion, outline, sketch
Note
2
league selectionnounUScountable
A yearly event where pro sports teams pick new young players.
Like choosing players for teams, but for whole leagues at once.
The team picked a tall guard in this year's draft.
He hopes to be chosen early in the draft.
UsageSay in the draft: he was picked early in the draft.
Note
3
verbtransitive
To write the first version of something, such as a letter, plan, or law.
Like making a rough sketch before painting the real picture.
She drafted a letter to her landlord about the broken heater.
I need to draft an email before lunch.
Similarwrite, compose, prepare
4
verbUStransitive
To pick a young player for a pro sports team.
Like a coach choosing new players for a team.
The team drafted a star quarterback this spring.
They hope to draft her in the first round.
UsageOften be drafted by a team.
Similarpick, select, choose
5
nouncountable
A stream of air coming into a room, or air pulled up a chimney.
Like a thin stream of cold air sneaking inside.
A cold draft came in under the door all night.
She felt a draft and closed the window.
UsageIn British English it is spelled draught. People say feel a draft.
Similarbreeze, current
Note
6
call-up systemnounCanadaUSusually singular
The system of making people join the army, whether they want to or not.
Like being picked for a team you cannot say no to.
Many young men were called up by the draft during the war.
The draft sent thousands of soldiers overseas.
UsageSay the draft. Many countries call it conscription.
Similarconscription, call-up
7
call into armyverbUStransitive
To order someone to join the army whether they want to or not.
Like being made to join a game you never signed up for.
The army drafted thousands of men that year.
They could draft him as soon as he turned eighteen.
UsageOften be drafted: he was drafted at eighteen.
Similarconscript, enlist, induct, recruit
Oppositedischarge, demobilize
8
on tapadjective
Served from a tap or barrel instead of a bottle or can.
Like fresh milk from a jug instead of a sealed carton.
They only sell draft beer at this stand.
I like draft cider better than the bottled kind.
UsageSay draft beer. British English spells it draught.
Oppositebottled, canned
9
nouncountable or uncountable
Beer or another drink poured straight from a barrel, not from a bottle or can.
Like pouring juice from a big jug instead of a small carton.
This bar serves cold draft straight from the tap.
He ordered a draft instead of a bottle.
UsageSay beer on draft. British spelling: draught.
Note
10
pick for taskverbtransitive
To choose someone or something for a certain job or use.
Like being picked to do a special job.
The coach drafted two kids to carry the gear.
They might draft me to help plan the party.
UsageSay draft someone to do a job.
Similarrecruit, enlist, select, choose, pick
Note
11
draw plansverbtransitive
To draw plans or designs of something, such as a building or machine.
Like sketching a map before you build something for real.
Architects draft the plans before any building begins.
She learned to draft simple house designs by hand.
Similarsketch, draw, outline, design, plan
12
ship depthnouncountable
How deep a boat sits in the water, from the surface to its bottom.
Like how far a cup sinks when you fill it with water.
This boat has a shallow draft and can enter small rivers.
The heavy cargo increased the vessel's draft.
UsageSay a shallow draft. British spelling: draught.
Note
13
payment ordernouncountable
A written order telling a bank or person to pay money.
Like a written note that says, pay this person money.
He wrote a draft for fifty dollars to settle the debt.
The merchant accepted a draft instead of cash.
Note

Less common meanings

14
email not sentnouncountable
An email you have written but not sent yet.
Like a letter you wrote but left in the drawer.
I saved the message as a draft to finish later.
Her draft was still sitting unsent in the folder.
UsageSay save it as a draft.
15
pulling loadsadjective
Used to describe an animal that pulls heavy loads like carts or plows.
Like a strong worker kept just for the heavy lifting.
A draft horse can pull a loaded wagon for miles.
Farmers once relied on draft animals to plow their fields.
UsageSay draft horse. British spelling: draught.
Note
16
follow closelyverbtransitive or intransitive
To drive or ride very close behind another vehicle to save energy by cutting through less air.
Like walking close behind a bigger person in strong wind so they block it for you.
Cyclists often draft behind a teammate to save energy on long rides.
He learned to draft close behind the lead car during the race.
UsageSay draft behind another rider or car.
Similarslipstream
Note
17
push to runnounUScountable
A way of pushing or persuading people to run for and take an elected job.
Fans of the actor started a draft movement, but he said he would not run.
A draft effort by her neighbors convinced her to run for mayor.
UsageSay a draft movement or a draft campaign.
Note
18
swallownouncountable
One swallow of a drink, or the amount you drink in one swallow.
Like the big gulp you take when you're really thirsty.
He emptied the glass in one long draft.
She took a deep draft of cold water.
UsageSay a long draft of water. British spelling: draught.
Similarswig
Note
19
dosenoundatedcountable
A measured amount of medicine or drink taken at one time.
Similarpotion, dose, mixture
20
separate animalsverbtransitive
To pick out and separate an animal from the rest of a herd or flock.
Like picking certain kids out of a line for a special group.
The farmers draft the lambs from the ewes each spring.
Workers draft sick cattle so they can be treated.
UsageSay draft animals from a group.
Similarseparate, sort, select, cut
Note
21
nounrare
A person who has been ordered to join the army.
22
noun
A way of playing card games where each player picks cards from a shared set.
23
verb
To play a card game by picking cards from a shared set to build your deck.
24
verbobsolete
To draw something out or bring it forth.
25
noun
The pulling force on the connectors between train cars when they are stretched apart.
26
noundialectalAppalachia
A small stream of water or a branch off a larger river.
Crossing several ridges & hollows & two small drafts of water.
1801, Surveys 43, quoted in 1940
27
nounarchaicBritish
A group picked out from a bigger group.
An earlier draft of horses for the 4th Light Dragoons, however,was very different.
1993, Lord Anglesey, A History of the British Cavalry 1816-1919: Volume 2: 1851-1871
28
noun
A slight slope on a model for metal casting so it comes out easily.
29
nounarchaic
The act of pulling a load, as a horse does.
30
nounarchaic
Pulling a fishing net in.
31
nounarchaic
The fish you get when you pull in a net.
32
noundialectalAppalachiaPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest
A small narrow valley, often with a stream.
33
verb
To pull out fibers so they can be made into thread.

Practice

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Origin

A different spelling of "draught," which came from Middle English and older Germanic words meaning "a pulling or drawing." It is related to "draw."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Draft originated as a different spelling of draught. en.wiktionary.org
Draught descends through Middle English from older Germanic words associated with pulling or drawing. en.wiktionary.org
The word is related to draw. en.wiktionary.org