Abstract: Many trans-acting factors are core regulators of gene expression and drought stress responses. Transcription factors function as regulons for structural changes of specific tissue, osmoprotectant accumulation and cellular homeostasis maintenance by ABA-independent regulatory system and ABA-dependent regulatory system during the process of perception, transduction and modulating the expression of related genes to improve drought resistance. A large number of transcription factor families have been identified in different crop species. Here, we made a review in four transcription factors which have been researched a lot in crops, that are AP2/ERF、NAC、MYB and WRKY. We mainly focus on their regulatory networks and mechanism. Critical problems need to be solved are put forward at the end of this review.