noun / verb

draft

DRAFT/dræft/

A preliminary version of a work, or the act of preparing it.

The garden plan's draft shows tentative outlines and an erased alternative path.

An unfinished garden-layout plan on tracing paper shows tentative pencil outlines, erased alternatives, and a visibly revised path.

Etymology

draftMiddle Englishdrawing; something drawn or written

A draught was an act of drawing or pulling, then something drawn or written. That result sense developed into a rough sketch or text prepared before a final version.

In context

National Academies - Earth and Life Studies68:38

we also prepared a draft 2022 ASR SC science plan that is also on our website um and that was never finalized

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress - Meeting 4 of the 2024 Review

More examples

We draft a proposal before presenting the idea.
He compares two drafts of the opening chapter.
I've drafted a reply, but I haven't sent it yet.

Forms

draft · drafts · drafted · drafting

drafter noun — Someone who prepares preliminary documents or plans.

Similar words

outline: Gives the main structure rather than a fully written version.
version: Can describe any form, including a finished one.