pull apart
phrasal verb
pulled apart; pulling apart; pulls apart
1
: to be separated into parts or pieces by pulling
The rolls pull apart easily.
2
: to separate or break (something) into parts or pieces
She pulled the rolls apart with her hands.
—sometimes used figurativelyHis gambling problem is pulling the family apart.
3
: to separate (people or animals) in order to stop a fight
Customers stepped in and pulled the two men apart.
Examples of pull apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In front of us, the sky splits, a wall of gray clouds thinning at the middle as if being pulled apart in a tug-of-war.
—
Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2025
West Iceland's volcano is a rift activity volcano, which involves the earth being pulled apart in two different directions through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, rather than a cone erupting magma through a central pipe, Algeo said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 July 2025
The Turkish leader has also used the 2016 coup attempt against him as an excuse to pull apart the rule of law and any vestiges of institutional governance in Turkey.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
While its famous for salted caramel brownies, macarons and eclairs, the cinnamon roll and pecan pull apart are deserving of attention.
—Jenny Matz, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull apart
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Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2025
West Iceland's volcano is a rift activity volcano, which involves the earth being pulled apart in two different directions through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, rather than a cone erupting magma through a central pipe, Algeo said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 July 2025
The Turkish leader has also used the 2016 coup attempt against him as an excuse to pull apart the rule of law and any vestiges of institutional governance in Turkey.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
While its famous for salted caramel brownies, macarons and eclairs, the cinnamon roll and pecan pull apart are deserving of attention.
—Jenny Matz, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull apart
Cite this Entry
“Pull apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20apart. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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