drawdown

[ draw-doun ]

noun

1. a lowering of water surface level, as in a well:

   Drawdowns of up to 90 feet have been recorded in many municipal wells in the area.

2. a reduction or depletion:

   The president announced a drawdown and eventual departure of troops from the region.

   The unprecedented drawdown of natural resources poses enormous challenges worldwide.

3. Stock Exchange. a drop in the value of a stock from its peak to its lowest level over a certain period, usually expressed as a percentage of the peak value.
4. British. the withdrawal of part of an investment, such as a pension or retirement fund, for use as income.

drawdown

/ ˈdrɔːˌdaʊn /

noun

1. a depletion or reduction, for example of supplies
2. a continuous decline in an investment or fund, usually expressed as a percentage between its highest and lowest levels
3. the intentional draining of a body of water such as a lake or reservoir, to a given depth

drawdown

/ drô′doun′ /

1. A lowering of the water level in a reservoir or other body of water, especially as the result of withdrawal.
2. The difference in elevation between the level of water in a well and the level of groundwater in the area in which the well is located.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drawdown¹

First recorded in 1780–90; draw + down ¹

Example Sentences

An IEA global agenda to achieve zero emissions is premised on a rapid worldwide coal drawdown, needing 6% yearly cuts around the world over the next four years.

From Time

The authors declared it “one of the most effective carbon drawdown solutions to date.”

From MIT Technology Review

Just like there are no silver bullet climate solutions—a whole ecosystem of practices and technologies is necessary to stop emissions and drawdown carbon—there is no single sector of leadership that will get the job done.

From Time

The drawdown comes as the tech giant reported iPhone sales that missed analysts’ estimates and gave no forecast for the holiday quarter.

From Fortune

To avert catastrophic climate change, it’s understood we must reach drawdown, a point at which the planet’s greenhouse-gas concentrations start declining for the first time since the Industrial Age.

From MIT Technology Review

Obama made clear where he stood when he quickly undercut his $120 billion investment by announcing a drawdown.

From The Daily Beast

Following troop drawdown, our goal is to create a self-sufficient Afghanistan, and one that views women as a vital contributors.

From The Daily Beast

He believes the U.S. troop drawdown will allow the insurgents more freedom of movement and therefore give them more strength.

From The Daily Beast

Your novel spans 150 years, but given the drawdown in Afghanistan it feels particularly pertinent to the present day.

From The Daily Beast

If that remains the case, then the American troop drawdown and withdrawal in 2014 should be able to proceed without a hitch.

From The Daily Beast