1 B1 neutral
To move backward suddenly out of surprise, fear, or discomfort.
"He drew back in shock when the snake appeared on the path in front of him."
inseparable
draw back
B1 neutral mixed transitive/intransitive
To move backward, especially suddenly from surprise or fear, or to pull something open or aside.
In plain English
To quickly move away from something scary or surprising, or to pull something back out of the way.
What does "draw back" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To pull something backward or open, especially curtains or a bolt.
"She drew back the curtains to let the morning light into the room."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To decide not to do something you had planned, especially at the last moment.
"The government drew back from implementing the controversial reforms after public protests."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pull or move something backward toward oneself.
Actually means
To quickly move away from something scary or surprising, or to pull something back out of the way.
Usage tip
When intransitive, it often describes an instinctive physical or emotional retreat. When transitive (e.g., 'draw back the curtains'), it means to open or pull aside. Also used as a noun: 'drawback' (a disadvantage).
Words that pair with "draw back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
curtains bolt veil hand troops fear
How to conjugate "draw back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
draw back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
draws back
he/she/it
Past simple
drew back
yesterday
Past participle
drawn back
have + pp
-ing form
drawing back
continuous
Hear "draw back" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "draw back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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