pull on

phrasal verb

pulled on; pulling on; pulls on

1

: to hold onto and move (something) toward oneself

She pulled on the rope with all her might.

2

: to hold onto and pull (something) repeatedly

When she gets nervous, she pulls on her ear.

3

: to breathe in the smoke from (a cigarette, pipe, etc.)

He rocked back and forth, pulling on his pipe.

4

: to dress oneself in (clothing)

She quickly pulled on her boots.

He pulled a sweater on.

Examples of pull on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is because tendons that normally curl the toes downward (such as when cats knead your lap) pull on the amputation stumps so that the stumps rub on the ground, and no mechanism remains to oppose that action. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Tug on a Leaf A go-to method that always works for McConnell—pulling on the leaves. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026

Big fun will arrive in tiny packages at the eighth annual Dairy Block Petite Parade, which plays off Mardi Gras and features miniature floats built from a shoebox base, and pulled on wheels. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

The head coach makes sure all players are pulling on the same rope and in the same direction. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026

Rhymes for pull on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon