1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To make something last longer than necessary; to prolong.
"The lawyer tried to draw out the cross-examination to tire the witness."
separable
draw out
B1 neutral separable transitive
To make something or someone come out gradually; to prolong something; or to encourage someone to talk.
In plain English
To slowly pull something out, to make something last longer, or to help a shy person feel comfortable enough to talk.
What does "draw out" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To encourage a shy or reserved person to speak or express themselves.
"The therapist had a gentle way of drawing out even the most reluctant patients."
separable
3 A2 neutral
To take or extract money from a bank or a physical object from a place.
"He drew out his wallet and paid for dinner without hesitation."
separable
4 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Of days) to become longer, especially as spring arrives.
"By March, the days are really starting to draw out."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically pull something out of a container or a place.
Actually means
To slowly pull something out, to make something last longer, or to help a shy person feel comfortable enough to talk.
Usage tip
Versatile phrasal verb with physical, temporal, and interpersonal senses. The 'prolong' sense is often slightly negative. The 'encourage to speak' sense is positive and common in teaching and counselling contexts.
Words that pair with "draw out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shy person information meeting process money silence
How to conjugate "draw out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
draw out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
draws out
he/she/it
Past simple
drew out
yesterday
Past participle
drawn out
have + pp
-ing form
drawing out
continuous
Hear "draw out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "draw out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.