pull 1 of 2

verb

ˈpu̇l How to pronounce pull (audio)
Definition of pullnext
1
as in to haul
to cause to follow by applying steady force on a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon

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2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth

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3
as in to stretch
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

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pull

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards

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2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington

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3
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pull
Verb
Meanwhile, Taco Bell removed all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from its restaurants, and the grower pulled its iceberg lettuce from restaurants and salad kits. — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Still, Buffett had decided to pull his funding ahead of this decision, which could signal his uneasiness about the Gates Foundation’s relationship with Epstein. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Noun
For generations, Illinois could rely on Chicago’s gravitational pull. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Electronic bingo is considered Class II gaming, which includes electronic bingo, bingo, pull-tab games and certain non-banked card games, where players compete against each other instead of against the casino. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
  1. haul
  2. yank
  3. stretch
  4. tug
  5. influence
  6. advantage
  7. drag
  8. extract
Verb
  • There were chickens, cows and goats to tend to, fences to mend, hay to haul.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
  • Under the beating sun in South San Jose Friday afternoon, Amanda Chapiewski hauled several bags of clothes to donation boxes in the Safeway parking lot in Almaden Valley.
    — Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • In recent months, numerous automakers have yanked EVs from the market, delayed new arrivals, and canceled their plans to debut new EVs.
    — Tim Levin, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • Normally, a pitcher with that pitch count who had given up just one run and two hits would not get yanked so quickly, but the Angels clearly had seen red flags during the previous inning.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 July 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • On the ensuing possession, Sneed knocked down his fifth 3 of the game from the right wing to bring his scoring total to 27 points and stretch Purple Reign’s lead back to 10.
    — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • Building a free-flowing, attack-minded squad was the priority, but Keegan’s appeal stretched beyond the dressing room.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of stretch
Noun
  • The counselor at the helm of the Hobie stood up and tried to alert the tug crew before impact, prosecutors say.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
  • Trajectories are shaped by the force of a micrometeoroid's expulsion from the comet's nucleus, along with the gentle push of radiation from the sun and the gravitational tug of the planets.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Hip-hop artist Ron Ron was honored for his long career and influence on the city’s music scene, with fellow Kansas City artists participating in the presentation.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • Trump has long been one of his most valuable campaign assets, and demonstrating continued influence in Washington matters for Netanyahu, who still hopes to host him in Israel for a pre-election visit.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • That kept the sales momentum rolling, but at the loss of the Neo’s financial advantages.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Chelsea failed to qualify for a European competition, but Gittens believes the extra chance to rest and prepare could be an advantage.
    — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of advantage
Verb
  • The European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1, planned for 2029, tackles the harder case by capturing the unprepared, noncooperative Proba-1 satellite and dragging it down to burn up.
    — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • Hellerstein appeared skeptical that the parties would resolve all classified-information questions by June, noting that the process can drag on.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • The artisan copper stills used to extract essential oils and hydrosols are handcrafted by Copper Pro in Ukraine, incorporating a unique heating element that can be plugged in rather than using an open flame.
    — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
  • During processing, the juices are extracted from the fruit, and the remaining flesh and fiber are discarded.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Definition of extract

Phrases Containing pull

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puling
pull
pull a face
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Cite this Entry

“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pull

Nglish: Translation of pull for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pull

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