draft
draft — verb
- draftpresent simple I / you / we / they
- drafts3rd person singular
- drafting-ing form
- draftedpast simple
1. to prepare a preliminary version of a written text, like a letter or report, kno
to prepare a preliminary version of a written text, like a letter or report, knowing you will revise it later before reaching the final version
Liang drafted the first three chapters of his novel over the summer break.
The committee is now drafting a new policy to improve data protection.
draft + noun phrase (policy/report/letter)
Before sending the final email, Astrid drafted three different versions.
Our legal team will draft a contract for the partnership agreement.
Cyrus spent the weekend drafting his application for the research grant.
- draft a letter
- draft a report
- draft a proposal
- draft legislation
- finalise
to complete the final version after the draft stage
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun phrase
Usage Note
The noun draft refers to the unfinished text itself. In UK English the noun is sometimes spelled draught for other meanings, but the verb spelling is always draft in both varieties.
Common Mistakes
2. to prepare detailed technical drawings or plans for a building, bridge, machine,
to prepare detailed technical drawings or plans for a building, bridge, machine, or other structure before it is built or made
The architect drafted the plans for the new library in under two weeks.
Hassan drafted a detailed blueprint of the bridge before construction crews arrived on site.
draft + blueprints/plans/designs
Engineers are now drafting designs for a safer and more efficient engine.
The team drafted several different layouts before agreeing on one kitchen design.
- draft a blueprint
- draft a design
- draft the layout
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun phrase (plans/blueprints/designs)
Usage Note
This sense is most common in architecture, engineering, and product design contexts. The person who does this work professionally is called a drafter or draughtsman.
Common Mistakes
3. to officially require someone by law to serve in a country's armed forces, typic
to officially require someone by law to serve in a country's armed forces, typically during a war or when extra soldiers are needed
During the conflict, thousands of young men were drafted into the army.
often passive: be drafted into + army/military
Christopher's grandfather was drafted at the age of nineteen and sent overseas.
The government drafted additional medical personnel to support military hospitals near the front line.
Dewi refused to serve after being drafted and faced a hearing before a military court.
- draft into the army
- draft for service
- be drafted during wartime
- discharge
to officially release someone from military service
Grammar Patterns
be drafted into + noun phrase
be drafted for + noun phrase
Usage Note
In US English this is the most common word for compulsory military service. UK English more often uses conscript. Frequently used in the passive voice (be drafted).
Common Mistakes
draft — noun
- draftsingular
- draftsplural
1. a piece of writing, a plan, or a drawing that shows the first version of somethi
a piece of writing, a plan, or a drawing that shows the first version of something, with the key points included but the full details not yet added
Romi showed the teacher the first draft of her essay on climate change.
first draft of [document]
The committee reviewed a draft of the new law before voting on it.
Noor sketched several drafts of the building before the team chose one.
drafts of [design]
The editor sent the draft back to Andrés with notes in red pen.
After three drafts the novel was ready for the publisher to see.
after [number] drafts
- first draft
- draft of
- rough draft
- draft proposal
- draft plan
- outline
a draft that lists only the main points, not the full content
- sketch
a rough drawing rather than a written draft
- rough version
informal way to refer to an early draft
- final version
the completed and polished product
Grammar Patterns
draft + of + [something]
Usage Note
Often preceded by 'first', 'second', 'rough', or 'final' to say which version. A draft can be a document, a law, a drawing, or a piece of art.
Common Mistakes
2. a government system that orders people, especially young men, to serve in the ar
a government system that orders people, especially young men, to serve in the armed forces for a fixed period
The government brought back the draft during the war to fill the army.
the draft during [event]
Many young men were called up through the national draft in the 1960s.
called up through the draft
Opposition to the military draft grew stronger as the conflict continued.
Vikram's grandfather was sent overseas after being selected in the draft.
selected in the draft
- the draft
- military draft
- avoid the draft
- draft system
- oppose the draft
- conscription
more formal term for compulsory military service
- call-up
informal British term for being ordered to serve
- voluntary service
enlisting by choice, not by legal requirement
Grammar Patterns
the draft + [verb]
be + called up + in/by the draft
Usage Note
Used as an uncountable noun, almost always with 'the'. The system is sometimes called 'conscription' in formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. an annual event in the US in which professional sports teams take turns choosing
an annual event in the US in which professional sports teams take turns choosing new young players from college or other teams
The basketball team picked a young point guard in this year's draft.
this year's draft
Ryo watched the NFL draft on TV to see which players were chosen.
the [sport] draft
Being the first pick in the draft is a great honor for any athlete.
Christopher got invited to the NBA draft after his final college season.
- NBA draft
- draft pick
- first-round draft
- draft day
- enter the draft
- player selection
a more general term for the process of choosing athletes
Grammar Patterns
the + [sport] + draft
in/through + the draft
Usage Note
Common only in American sports. Each major league has its own event: NBA draft, NFL draft, NHL draft, etc.
4. a written document telling a bank to give a fixed sum of money to a named person
a written document telling a bank to give a fixed sum of money to a named person or business
The exporter asked for a bank draft before sending the goods overseas.
bank draft
Christopher paid the supplier with a draft drawn on a London bank.
draft drawn on [bank]
The company issued a draft for the full amount of the invoice.
draft for [amount]
Élise received a banker's draft to complete the property purchase.
- bank draft
- banker's draft
- draft for
- issue a draft
- pay by draft
- banker's draft
same meaning, slightly more formal
- bank cheque
a cheque guaranteed by a bank, similar to a draft
Grammar Patterns
bank draft + for + [amount]
a draft + drawn on + [bank]
Usage Note
A bank draft is more secure than a personal cheque because the bank guarantees the payment. Often used in international trade.
Common Mistakes
5. a flow of cold air that comes into an indoor area through an open window, a door
a flow of cold air that comes into an indoor area through an open window, a door, or a crack in the wall
Megan shut the window because a cold draft was blowing through the room.
cold draft
Yael felt a draft from the narrow gap under the old front door.
felt a draft from [place]
An old wooden house often has drafts in winter that make heating costly.
drafts in winter
A cold draft came through the open window while Adaeze was reading.
- cold draft
- feel a draft
- draft from
- draft under
- block the draft
- current of air
more formal or neutral description
- breeze
a gentle wind, not necessarily cold or unpleasant
Grammar Patterns
a + draft + from + [location]
Usage Note
British English spells this sense as 'draught'. This meaning is unrelated to the other meanings of 'draft'.
Common Mistakes
6. a pocket of low air pressure that appears behind a moving car or other object, a
a pocket of low air pressure that appears behind a moving car or other object, allowing a vehicle behind it to save fuel or go faster
The racing driver moved close to catch the draft of the car ahead.
catch the draft of [vehicle]
Cyclists often ride in each other's draft to save energy during races.
ride in [someone's] draft
By slipping into the truck's draft the small car cut its fuel use.
Amihan explained how a following vehicle can benefit from the draft.
benefit from the draft
- catch the draft
- in the draft
- draft of
- use the draft
- the draft behind
- slipstream
the same concept, especially used in motorsports
- tow
less precise; can also mean being pulled by a rope
Grammar Patterns
the + draft + of + [vehicle]
ride + in + [someone's] + draft
Usage Note
The verb form 'drafting' is more common than the noun in motorsports and cycling contexts. The technique is also called 'slipstreaming'.
7. the distance from the waterline to the lowest point of a boat or ship's hull, wh
the distance from the waterline to the lowest point of a boat or ship's hull, which determines the minimum depth of water it needs to float without touching the bottom
The harbour master checked the ship's draft before allowing it to enter the shallow canal.
possessive: ship's draft; context of navigation
A sailboat with a deep keel has a greater draft than a flat-bottomed fishing boat.
comparative: greater draft than
The captain studied the chart carefully because his vessel had a draft of four metres.
draft of + measurement
Rivers with low water in summer can be dangerous for boats with a large draft.
collocation: large draft
- deep draft
- shallow draft
- draft of ... metres/feet
- vessel's draft
- maximum draft
- draught
British spelling variant of the same term
Grammar Patterns
draft + of + number + unit
Usage Note
Frequently paired with a measurement: 'a draft of 3.5 metres'. Subject is usually a boat, ship, or vessel.
Common Mistakes
8. a method of serving beer and other drinks by pumping them from a large container
a method of serving beer and other drinks by pumping them from a large container such as a barrel, rather than pouring them from a bottle or can
The pub was known for serving beer on draft from several local breweries.
idiom: on draft
Felix ordered a pint of draft lager instead of a bottled one.
draft as adjective modifying drink type
The bartender connected a fresh barrel to the draft system before the evening rush.
compound: draft system
Many customers say that beer tastes better on draft than from a can.
The restaurant installed a new draft system to offer six different kinds of ale.
- on draft
- draft beer
- draft lager
- draft system
- draft ale
- draft cider
Grammar Patterns
on draft
draft beer
draft + noun
Usage Note
Used in the fixed phrase 'on draft' to describe how a drink is served. As a modifier before a noun, 'draft' describes drinks served this way, e.g. 'draft beer', 'draft cider'.
Common Mistakes
9. a single act of drinking liquid from a container, or the quantity that passes do
a single act of drinking liquid from a container, or the quantity that passes down the throat in that one action
After a long run, Élise took a deep draft of cold water from her bottle.
a draft of + liquid; adjective: deep draft
The doctor asked the patient to finish the medicine in one draft.
prepositional phrase: in one draft
Naoko took a long draft of iced tea to cool down on a hot afternoon.
Jude finished his juice in three quick drafts and dashed out the door.
plural: drafts; in + number + drafts
With one final draft, Christopher emptied his cup and set it down on the table.
- deep draft
- long draft
- quick draft
- final draft
- take a draft
- in one draft
- draft of water
Grammar Patterns
a draft + of + drink
in one draft
in + number + drafts
Usage Note
More common in written or formal English than in everyday conversation. In casual speech, 'swallow' or 'gulp' is preferred. Often used with adjectives like 'deep', 'long', 'quick', or 'final'.
Common Mistakes
10. a measured amount of liquid medicine that a person drinks at one time, especiall
a measured amount of liquid medicine that a person drinks at one time, especially as a single dose
The pharmacist measured out a draft of cough syrup for the child.
measured out a draft — verb collocation with pharmacist
Aylin took a draft of the herbal mixture every evening before bed.
The bottle says each draft of the liquid medicine contains 200 milligrams of the active ingredient.
each draft of + medicine + contains + dosage
The nurse poured a draft of the antibiotic solution into a small paper cup.
His grandmother prepared a nightly draft of warm honey and lemon for his sore throat.
nightly draft — routine dose before sleep
- draft of medicine
- nightly draft
- draft of syrup
- liquid draft
- measured draft
- dose
much more common in modern medical usage; 'draft' sounds old-fashioned by comparison
Grammar Patterns
a draft + of + medicine
draft + of + liquid remedy
Usage Note
This sense is somewhat old-fashioned or formal. In modern medical contexts, 'dose' is far more common. Often used to describe home remedies or traditional medicine routines.
Common Mistakes
draft — adjective
- draftpositive
- draftercomparative
- draftestsuperlative
1. Of a drink, especially beer or cider, kept in a barrel and poured straight from
Of a drink, especially beer or cider, kept in a barrel and poured straight from it when a customer orders it, rather than being sold in a sealed bottle or can.
Sivan ordered a glass of draft lager at the pub near her flat.
Draft beer often has a richer, fresher taste than bottled beer.
collocation: draft beer / draft lager / draft ale
The local brewery sells both draft and bottled versions of its popular pale ale.
contrast: draft vs bottled
Trang asked the bartender which draft beers were available that evening.
The waiter asked whether we wanted our ale bottled or on draft.
phrase: 'on draft' after the verb 'be'
Draft ale is usually kept at a slightly warmer temperature than bottled beer.
temperature comparison: draft vs bottled
- draft beer
- draft lager
- draft ale
- draft cider
- draft stout
- draft pint
- on draft
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun (beer, lager, ale, cider, stout)
be on draft
Usage Note
The British spelling is 'draught' for this sense. Always placed before the noun it describes when used attributively ('draft beer'), but appears after the verb in the fixed phrase 'on draft' ('This stout is on draft').
Common Mistakes
2. Of animals such as horses, mules, or oxen, bred or trained to pull carts, farm e
Of animals such as horses, mules, or oxen, bred or trained to pull carts, farm equipment, or other heavy objects rather than for riding or racing.
Farmers in the valley still use draft horses to pull their plows.
collocation: draft horses
The museum has a collection of old farming equipment for draft oxen.
Draft animals like mules can carry heavy loads up steep mountain paths.
collocation: draft animals
Ezra watched the draft horses pull a cart full of hay across the field.
attributive: draft before noun
- draft horse
- draft ox
- draft animal
- draft mule
- draft pony
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun (horse, ox, animal, mule)
Usage Note
The British spelling is 'draught' for this sense. This meaning is mostly historical or used in rural and traditional-farming contexts.
Common Mistakes
3. Of a document, plan, drawing, or other piece of work, prepared in an early form
Of a document, plan, drawing, or other piece of work, prepared in an early form that contains the main ideas but is not yet the final, complete version.
Joshua showed his teacher a draft version of his essay before the deadline.
collocation: draft version
The committee reviewed a draft proposal before voting on the final plan.
collocation: draft proposal
Mei sent a draft copy of the report to her manager for comments.
collocation: draft copy
A draft agreement between the two companies was reached last night.
The architect shared a draft drawing of the new library with the city council.
collocation: draft drawing
- draft document
- draft plan
- draft proposal
- draft agreement
- draft report
- draft letter
- draft version
- draft copy
- draft drawing
- preliminary
more formal; used in official or academic contexts
- rough
less formal; often used for hand-drawn or quickly written work
- tentative
emphasizes that the work is not yet confirmed or final
- initial
focuses on the first stage of a process
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun (plan, document, proposal, agreement, letter, report, drawing, version)
Usage Note
This sense is used across many contexts — business, academic, legal, and creative. The related verb form 'to draft' means to produce such a preliminary version.
Common Mistakes
4. Of equipment, ropes, chains, or vehicles, made to pull things that are very heav
Of equipment, ropes, chains, or vehicles, made to pull things that are very heavy, such as tree trunks, large machines, or other bulky items.
The ship uses heavy draft ropes to pull smaller boats into the harbor.
collocation: draft ropes
Tyler checked the draft chains before attaching them to the tractor.
collocation: draft chains
Draft cables on this bridge must be strong enough to lift very heavy weights.
The rescue team brought extra draft ropes for pulling the car out of the mud.
attributive: draft before noun
- draft rope
- draft chain
- draft cable
- draft gear
- draft equipment
Grammar Patterns
draft + noun (rope, chain, cable, gear, equipment)
Usage Note
Less common than the animal sense (sense 2) but still used in technical, industrial, and maritime contexts. The British spelling is 'draught'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Draft, outline, sketch, rough version, and blueprint all refer to early or incomplete forms of work, but they differ in medium and purpose. A draft is typically a written or textual first attempt — an essay, a contract, a speech — that is expected to be revised. An outline focuses on structure: it lists the main points in order without developing the full content. A sketch belongs to visual work — a quick drawing that captures basic shapes before a finished piece. A rough version is a broader, informal term that can apply to any medium and emphasises lack of polish rather than incompleteness. A blueprint is a detailed technical drawing, originally on blue paper, used in architecture and engineering; it is more precise and formal than a draft. For example: "Noor's first draft of the novel was 300 pages long." "The teacher asked for an outline before the full essay." "The architect sketched the building in under ten minutes." "My rough version of the song still needs lyrics." "The engineer checked the blueprint before construction began."
Common collocations
Nouns
- first draft
- final draft
- rough draft
- draft version
- draft proposal
- draft document
- draft plan
- draft beer
- draft horse
- bank draft
- military draft
Adverbs
- carefully drafted
- quickly drafted
- originally drafted
Phrases
- in draft form
- draft a letter
- draft a report
- draft legislation
- feel a draft
- be drafted into
- enter the draft
- draft pick
Prepositions
- draft of
- draft for
- draft from
- on draft
Etymology
The word comes from Old English dreaht / draht, meaning "something drawn or pulled", from the Proto-Germanic root *draganą (to draw, pull). The core idea of drawing or pulling can be seen across all modern meanings — drawing up a document, pulling a load, or drawing air into a room. The spelling draft emerged in the 16th century as a phonetic variant, while draught retained the older spelling; American English later standardised draft for all senses, whereas British English keeps draught for the air-current, beer, and pulling-animal meanings.
First known use
13th century
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adjective