pull

1 of 2

verb

ˈpu̇l 

also

ˈpəl 

pulled; pulling; pulls

transitive verb

1

a

: to exert force upon so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the force

b

: to stretch (cooling candy) repeatedly

pull taffy

c

: to strain abnormally

pull a tendon

d

: to hold back (a racehorse) from winning

e

: to work (an oar) by drawing back strongly

2

a

: to draw out from the skin

pull feathers from a rooster's tail

b

: to pluck from a plant or by the roots

pull flowers

pull turnips

c

: extract

pull a tooth

3

: to hit (a ball) toward the left from a right-handed swing or toward the right from a left-handed swing compare push

4

: to draw apart : rend, tear

5

: to print (something, such as a proof) by impression

6

a

: to remove from a place or situation

pull the engine

pulled the pitcher in the third inning

pulled the show

b

: revoke

If they're caught dumping, they'll get their license pulled.

—Alexandra Alger

7

: to bring (a weapon) into the open

pulled a knife

8

a

: perform, carry out

pull an all-nighter

pull guard duty

b

: commit, perpetrate

pull a robbery

pull a prank

9

a

: put on, assume

pull a grin

b

: to act or behave in the manner of

pulled a Horace Greely and went west

—Steve Rushin

10

a

: to draw the support or attention of : attract

pull votes

—often used with in

b

: obtain, secure

pulled a B in the course

11

: to demand or obtain an advantage over someone by the assertion of

pull rank

intransitive verb

1

a

: to use force in drawing, dragging, or tugging

b

: to move especially through the exercise of mechanical energy

the car pulled clear of the rut

c(1)

: to take a drink

(2)

: to draw hard in smoking

pulled at a pipe

d

: to strain against the bit

2

: to draw a gun

3

: to admit of being pulled

4

: to feel or express strong sympathy : root

pulling for my team to win

5

of an offensive lineman in football : to move back from the line of scrimmage and toward one flank to provide blocking for a ballcarrier

puller noun

pull

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

1

a

: the act or an instance of pulling

b(1)

: a draft of liquid

(2)

: an inhalation of smoke

c

: the effort expended in moving

a long pull uphill

d

: force required to overcome resistance to pulling

a trigger with a four pound pull

e

: a competition in which a heavily weighted sled is pulled by participants usually using draft animals or machines

a tractor pull

the county fair's annual ox pull

The truck pull may be one one of the machine age's weirdest mutations. Modified pickup trucks and dragsters are hooked to trailers or "sleds" weighed down with 30,000 to 40,000 pounds … They rev up their engines and slog their way across a 200-foot mud track.

2

a

: advantage

b

: special influence

3

: proof sense 6a

4

: a device for pulling something or for operating by pulling

a drawer pull

5

: a force that attracts, compels, or influences : attraction

6

: an injury resulting from abnormal straining or stretching

a muscle pull

a groin pull

Phrases

pull a face

: to make a face : grimace

pull a fast one

: to perpetrate a trick or fraud

pull oneself together

: to regain one's composure

pull one's leg

: to deceive someone playfully : hoax

pull one's weight

: to do one's full share of the work

pull punches or less commonly pull a punch

: to refrain from using all the force at one's disposal

pull stakes or pull up stakes

: to move out : leave

pull strings or less commonly pull wires

: to exert hidden influence or control

pull the plug

1

: to disconnect a medical life-support system

2

: to withdraw essential and especially financial support

pull the rug from under

: to weaken or unsettle especially by removing support or assistance from

pull the string

: to throw a changeup

pull the trigger

: to make a decisive move or action

pull the wool over one's eyes

: to blind to the true situation : hoodwink

pull together

: to work in harmony : cooperate

Synonyms

Verb

• haul
• drag
• tug

Noun

• tug
• yank

Examples of pull in a Sentence

Verb

He pulled the door open and ran out.

The cat will scratch you if you keep pulling its tail.

Make a knot in the rope and pull it tight.

Pull the baby's chair closer to the table.

She pulled the blanket over her head.

We tried pushing and pulling but couldn't get the couch to move.

Grab the end of the rope and pull as hard as you can.

We spent the morning in the garden pulling weeds.

I accidentally pulled one of the buttons off my shirt.

He pulled the plug out of the socket.

Noun

She gave the door a few hard pulls and it opened.

Give the rope a pull.

He has a lot of pull in local political circles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees. —Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023

The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together. —Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023

Noun

The inclusion of a retractable cable mechanism in the new devices has been tested to withstand up to 30,000 pulls. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

On these days, the moon will be at its furthest from the Earth's equator, changing its gravitational pull and causing our planet to spin just a tiny bit faster on its axis, according to science news website LiveScience. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English pullian; akin to Middle Low German pulen to shell, cull

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pull

• demand-pull
• leg-pull
• pull ahead
• pull an all-nighter
• pull apart
• pull aside
• pull a stunt
• pull at
• pull a vanishing act
• pull away
• pull down
• pull-down menu
• pull for
• pull in
• pull in one's horns
• pull into
• pull off
• pull on
• pull one's hair out
• pull one's own weight
• pull out
• pull out all the stops
• pull over
• pull quote
• pull rank
• pull round
• pull someone's leg
• pull tab
• pull the chain
• pull the strings
• pull the wool over someone's eyes
• pull through
• pull up
• pull up a chair
• pull up short
• pull/yank someone's chain
• push-pull
• ring pull
• tug/pull at one's heartstrings

Rhymes for pull

• full
• wool
• brimful
• handful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful

Kids Definition

pull

1 of 2 verb

ˈpu̇l 

1

: to separate forcibly from a natural or firm attachment

pull a tooth

pull up carrots

2

a

: to use force on so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the force

pull a wagon

pull at a rope

b

: to stretch repeatedly

pull taffy

c

: to strain by stretching

pull a tendon

d

: move entry 1 sense 1

the car pulled out of the driveway

3

: to draw apart : tear

4

: remove entry 1 sense 2

pulled the pitcher in the third inning

5

: to bring into the open

pulled a knife

6

: to carry out with skill or daring : commit

pull a robbery

7

: attract sense 2

pull customers

puller noun

pull

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act or an instance of pulling

b

: the effort put forth in pulling

a long pull uphill

2

: special influence

got his job through pull

3

: a device for pulling

a drawer pull

4

: a force that attracts or influences

the pull of gravity

5

: an injury resulting from abnormal straining or stretching

a muscle pull

Medical Definition

pull

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈpu̇l 

1

: extract sense 1

pull a tooth

2

: to strain or stretch abnormally

pull a tendon

pull a muscle

pull

2 of 2 noun

: an injury resulting from abnormal straining or stretching especially of a muscle see groin pull