drawing

DRAH-ing/ˈdɹɑ.ɪŋ/UKDRAW-ing/ˈdɹɔː.ɪŋ/AUSDRAW-ring/ˈdɹɔː.ɹɪŋ/

6 meanings of drawing

1
artwork (piece)nouncountable
A picture or diagram made with lines, usually using a pencil or pen on paper.
Like a photo, but made by hand with a pen instead of a camera.
She taped her drawing of a horse to the fridge.
The old book has a delicate drawing on every page.
UsageSay a drawing of your dog. You can do a drawing, or draw a picture.
Similarsketch, picture, illustration, diagram
Note
2
action itselfverb
Present participle of draw. Use this form for an action happening right now.
She is drawing a picture of her cat.
The children are drawing with bright crayons.
Note
3
noununcountable
The activity or skill of making pictures or diagrams with lines, usually using a pencil or pen.
She studies drawing at an art school in the city.
He is good at drawing but prefers painting.
UsageFor the skill, you usually don't use a: say good at drawing or learn drawing.
4
lotterynouncountable
An event where a winner is picked by chance, often by pulling a name or number out of a hat.
Like pulling a raffle ticket from a box to see who gets the prize.
She won a new bike in the school drawing.
The raffle drawing happens at noon tomorrow.
UsagePeople hold a drawing, and you win something in it. Some people call it a draw.
Similarraffle, lottery

Less common meanings

5
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of pulling something out or stretching it.
In wire drawing, the metal gets longer and thinner.
Wire is made by the drawing of metal through tiny holes.
Similarpulling, extraction
6
noun
A small amount of tea leaves to put in hot water to make tea.

drawing is a form of draw

draw, verb: To make a picture or lines on paper using a pencil, pen, crayon, or chalk. Full entry

Forms: drawdraws he/she/itdrawing -ing formdrew past tensedrawn past participle
Spelling: draw → drawing: add -ing

Practice

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Origins

Meaning 2

It comes from an old English form of the verb "draw," meaning to pull.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Drawing ultimately derives from an older form of the verb draw. en.wiktionary.org
The ancestral Old English verb meant to pull or drag. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3–5

It comes from Middle English, formed from "draw" plus "-ing."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The noun drawing comes from Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Drawing is formed from draw plus -ing. en.wiktionary.org