draw water

USAGE SUMMARY

"draw water" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to mean "obtain water from a source" or "pull water from a well or other container." Example: The villagers had to draw water from the nearby stream every morning for their daily needs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he hopes he can draw water from the stone.

The New York Times

They shower in makeshift structures and draw water for cooking and cleaning out of dirty wells.

The Guardian

The farm will draw water from it to fill its ponds.

The Guardian

It was dawn, and a lone guerrilla picked his way through the forest to draw water.

The New York Times

The acequias themselves draw water from a series of larger canals diverted from the Rio Grande.

The Guardian

They draw water with buckets, but from the houses of family and friends.

The New York Times

Still, Mr. Pamplin needed easements from the town to draw water to his properties.

The New York Times

Cilia (tiny hairlike projections) on six septa draw water into the cavity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Westlands has contracts to draw water from the other (federally financed) aqueduct.

The Economist

"We draw water from outside Delhi, mostly farmhouses in Mehrauli, Najafgarh and Faridabad," said Mr. Sharma.

The New York Times

Plants draw water from soil moisture through their vast network of root hairs and rootlets.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "draw water", consider the context. For scenarios where manual effort is involved, such as from a well, "draw water" is particularly apt. In more technical or industrial settings, alternatives like "extract water" may be more suitable.

Common error

Avoid using "draw water" when describing modern, automated processes. Phrases like "access water" or "extract water" are more fitting when the process is not manual or traditional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "draw water" functions as a verb phrase where "draw" is the transitive verb indicating the action of extracting or pulling, and "water" is the direct object. Ludwig provides examples across various contexts, supporting this grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

12%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "draw water" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of obtaining water from a source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and everyday communication. While alternatives like "extract water" or "obtain water" may be more appropriate in certain technical contexts, "draw water" particularly fits scenarios involving manual effort. Recognizing its connotations and avoiding its use in fully automated settings is crucial for effective communication. Its high frequency and presence in authoritative sources highlight its reliability as a standard English phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extract water

Replaces "draw" with a synonym emphasizing extraction.

obtain water

Uses a more general term for acquiring water.

collect water

Focuses on the gathering aspect of obtaining water.

fetch water

Implies going to get water from a distance.

pump water

Specifies the use of a pump to obtain water.

retrieve water

Emphasizes the recovery of water.

access water

Focuses on the ability to get water.

tap water

Refers to accessing water from a tap or source.

channel water

Highlights directing water for use.

divert water

Indicates changing the course of water to obtain it.

FAQs

How can I use "draw water" in a sentence?

You can use "draw water" to describe the act of obtaining water from a source, like a well or river. For example, "The villagers had to draw water from the well every morning."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "draw water"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "extract water", "obtain water", or "collect water".

In what context is it most appropriate to use "draw water"?

"Draw water" is best used when referring to a manual or traditional method of obtaining water, such as from a well or stream. It suggests a physical effort in retrieving the water.

What's the difference between "draw water" and "drain water"?

"Draw water" implies obtaining water from a source, while "drain water" means removing water from an area or container. They are opposite actions.