drawl

1 of 2

verb

drawled; drawling; drawls

intransitive verb

: to speak slowly with vowels greatly prolonged

transitive verb

: to utter in a slow lengthened tone
drawler noun
drawlingly adverb

drawl

2 of 2

noun

: a drawling manner of speaking
drawly adjective

Examples of drawl in a Sentence

Verb “Well, hello there,” she drawled. He drawled his name in a Southern accent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The unofficial grand dame of Americana returns after a 2020 stroke that took the guitar from her hands but left her vocals as sassy, vulnerable and distinctively drawled as ever. Greg Carannante, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 Each room is a chapter of a long, drawling story that will never quite end. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2023 On The Diary, Scaface's flow has slowed considerably, with his Southern drawl creeping into his delivery. Lance Scott Walker, Chron, 2 May 2023 But then there was T.I. and his country drawl, kicking game in a wifebeater to any woman in a bikini willing to listen. Caleb Catlin, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2023 Johnny Cash drawled from a stereo speaker as prospective owners and foster parents drifted in and out of the building. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Feb. 2023 Earl, a beer-bellied alien with a quad-cannon and a trucker hat, drawls about the simple life with a southern accent. Cecilia D'anastasio, Wired, 27 May 2020 An imposing man who stood 6-feet-6 and weighed more than 250 pounds, Mr. LaBeef sang in a deep, drawling baritone. Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2020 Her testimony came with rolled r’s and drawling vowels. Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2019
Noun
Tall and lanky, with a Southern drawl that revealed his Tennessee upbringing, Dr. Campbell stumbled on what would become a four-decade-long career in public health. Michael S. Rosenwald, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 John McEachern, an Alabamian with a Southern drawl, worked the FBI’s bank robbery squad. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Alongside wife, Camila Alves, the veteran actor with a signature Southern drawl launched Pantalones Organic Tequila. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Jacob Elordi nails Elvis Presley's distinctive drawl in Priscilla, so moviegoers might be surprised to learn that the actor playing the King actually speaks with an Australian accent off screen. Wesley Stenzel Published, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2023 Yes, he's got the distinctive Memphis drawl and the shoe-polish black hair, but our only glimpse of him as a performer is one shot of him from behind in his Vegas-era white jumpsuit. EW.com, 24 Oct. 2023 Sure, the framing device, involving a P.I. (Kevin Kline) and an angel of death (Virginia Madsen), is a little contrived, and Garrison Keillor’s avuncular drawl may ring false to today’s ears. August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2023 Whether their Cajun accents are syrup-thick or just a drawl, these folks are welcoming and willing to share their stories, as Shannon Villemarette does. Robert N. Jenkins, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 His crystal clear words, dripping with his southside-of-Atlanta drawl, resonated with us as southerners. Essence, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drawl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably frequentative of draw

First Known Use

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

circa 1690, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drawl was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near drawl

Cite this Entry

“Drawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drawl. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

drawl

1 of 2 verb
: to speak slowly with vowels drawn out beyond their usual length

drawl

2 of 2 noun
: a drawling way of speaking

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