Pull Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Published on June 8, 2025
Pull refers to the act of exerting force on something so as to cause it to move toward the source of the force. e.g., He gave the door a sharp pull to open it.
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Pull Definitions
To draw out or extract something.
He used pliers to pull a nail from the board.
To influence or persuade effectively.
He has the political pull to get the legislation passed.
To produce or yield something.
The new series is expected to pull high ratings.
To inhale smoke from a cigarette or pipe.
He took a long pull on his cigarette.
To row or handle an oar.
All rowers pull together to move the boat.
ADVERTISEMENT
To print or publish.
The newspaper pulled the story after finding inaccuracies.
To exert a controlling or manipulative force.
She has a lot of pull in the company, affecting many decisions.
To apply force to (something) so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the source of the force
Pulled her chair up to the table.
Pulled the wagon down the street.
To remove from a fixed position; extract
The dentist pulled the tooth.
To tug at; jerk or tweak
I pulled the lever until it broke.
To rip or tear; rend
The dog pulled the toy to pieces.
To stretch (taffy, for example) repeatedly.
To strain (a muscle, for example) injuriously.
(Informal) To attract; draw
A performer who pulls large crowds.
(Slang) To draw out (a weapon) in readiness for use
Pull a gun.
Pulled a knife on me.
(Informal) To remove
Pulled the car's engine.
Pulled the tainted meat product from the stores.
(Sports) To hit (a ball) so that it moves in the direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player.
To operate (an oar) in rowing.
To transport or propel by rowing.
To be rowed by
That boat pulls six oars.
To rein in (a horse) to keep it from winning a race.
(Printing) To produce (a print or an impression) from type.
To exert force in moving something toward the source of the force
Pull harder and the window will open.
To move in a certain direction or toward a certain goal
Pulled into the driveway.
Pulled even with the race leader.
To gain a position closer to an objective
Our team has pulled within three points of the league leader.
To drink or inhale deeply
Pulled on the cold beer with gusto.
Pull on a cigarette.
(Nautical) To row a boat.
(Informal) To express or feel great sympathy or empathy
We're pulling for our new president.
The act or process of pulling
Gave the drawer a pull.
Force exerted in pulling or required to overcome resistance in pulling
How much pull does this tugboat have?.
A sustained effort
A long pull across the mountains.
Something, such as a knob on a drawer, that is used for pulling.
A deep inhalation or draft, as on a cigarette or of a beverage.
(Slang) A means of gaining special advantage; influence
The lobbyist has pull with the senator.
(Informal) The ability to draw or attract; appeal
A star with pull at the box office.
To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.
When I give the signal, pull the rope.
You're going to have to pull harder to get that cork out of the bottle.
To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck.
To pull fruit from a tree
Pull flax
Pull a finch
(transitive) To attract or net; to pull in.
To persuade (someone) to have sex with one.
I pulled at the club last night.
He's pulled that bird over there.
(transitive) To remove (something), especially from public circulation or availability.
Each day, they pulled the old bread and set out fresh loaves.
The book was due to be released today, but it was pulled at the last minute over legal concerns.
(transitive) To retrieve or generate for use.
I'll have to pull a part number for that.
This computer file is incorrect. Can we pull the old version from your backups?
(construction) To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.
It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work.
To do or perform.
He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14.
You'll be sent home if you pull another stunt like that.
(with 'a' and the name of a person, place, event, etc.) To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour that is associated with the person or thing mentioned.
He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.
To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.
(intransitive) To row.
To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.
I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday.
It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke.
To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
(transitive) To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).
To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.
(UK) To score a certain number of points in a sport.
How many points did you pull today, Albert?
(horse-racing) To hold back, and so prevent from winning.
The favourite was pulled.
To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.
To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)
(UK) To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.
Let's stop at Finnigan's. The barman pulls a good pint.
(intransitive) To take a swig or mouthful of drink.
To pull out from a yard or station; to leave.
To pluck or pick (flowers, fruit etc.).
(sports) Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.
An act of pulling applying force toward oneself.
He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out.
An attractive force which causes motion towards the source.
The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant.
Iron fillings drawn by the pull of a magnet
She took a pull on her cigarette.
An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing.
The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients.
Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope.
A zipper pull
Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest.
In weights the favourite had the pull.
Or attraction (e.g. of a movie star).
The situation where a client sends out a request for data from a server, as in server pull, pull technology
A journey made by rowing.
(dated) A contest; a struggle.
A wrestling pull
Loss or violence suffered.
(colloquial) The act of drinking; a mouthful or swig of a drink.
(cricket) A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on side; a pull shot.
(golf) A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path.
A single impression from a handpress.
(printing) A proof sheet.
To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly.
Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows.
He put forth his hand . . . and pulled her in.
To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.
To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch.
To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar.
To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled.
To take or make, as a proof or impression; - hand presses being worked by pulling a lever.
To exert one's self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope.
The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one.
I awakened with a violent pull upon the ring which was fastened at the top of my box.
A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull.
A pluck; loss or violence suffered.
Two pulls at once;His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.
A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull.
The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river.
The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug.
Something in one's favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull.
A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side.
The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket.
The act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you;
The pull up the hill had him breathing harder
His strenuous pulling strained his back
The force used in pulling;
The pull of the moon
The pull of the current
Special advantage or influence;
The chairman's nephew has a lot of pull
A device used for pulling something;
He grabbed the pull and opened the drawer
A sharp strain on muscles or ligaments;
The wrench to his knee occurred as he fell
He was sidelined with a hamstring pull
A slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke);
He took a puff on his pipe
He took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly
A sustained effort;
It was a long pull but we made it
Cause to move along the ground by pulling;
Draw a wagon
Pull a sled
Direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes;
Her good looks attract the stares of many men
The ad pulled in many potential customers
This pianist pulls huge crowds
The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers
Move into a certain direction;
The car pulls to the right
Apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion;
Pull the rope
Pull the handle towards you
Pull the string gently
Pull the trigger of the gun
Pull your kneees towards your chin
Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation;
Perpetrate a crime
Pull a bank robbery
Bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover;
Draw a weapon
Pull out a gun
The mugger pulled a knife on his victim
Steer into a certain direction;
Pull one's horse to a stand
Pull the car over
Strain abnormally;
I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up
The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition
Cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense;
A declining dollar pulled down the export figures for the last quarter
Operate when rowing a boat;
Pull the oars
Rein in to keep from winning a race;
Pull a horse
Tear or be torn violently;
The curtain ripped from top to bottom
Pull the cooked chicken into strips
Hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing;
Pull the ball
Strip of feathers;
Pull a chicken
Pluck the capon
Draw or pull out, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense;
Pull weeds
Extract a bad tooth
Take out a splinter
Extract information from the telegram
Take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for;
We all rooted for the home team
I'm pulling for the underdog
Are you siding with the defender of the title?
Take away;
Pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf
To exert force on something towards oneself.
She had to pull the suitcase up the stairs.
To attract interest or attention.
The movie managed to pull a large audience on opening night.
To withdraw from participation.
The team decided to pull out of the competition due to injuries.
Pull Snonyms
Drag
To pull along with difficulty or effort.
They had to drag the sofa to the other side of the room.
Attract
To cause to come to or toward oneself.
The magnet attracts iron filings.
Yank
To pull suddenly and sharply.
He yanked the door open when he heard the screams.
Tug
To pull at something with sudden force.
He gave the rope a quick tug to test its strength.
Influence
To sway or affect someone's actions or decisions.
His mentor had a strong influence on his career.
Draw
To pull or lead towards oneself.
She drew the curtains closed.
Puff
To draw in and blow out smoke.
He took a puff from his cigar to relax.
Row
To propel a boat by means of oars.
They rowed across the lake at dawn.
Extract
To draw out by effort or force.
The dentist extracted the impacted tooth.
Produce
To bring forth or yield.
The farm produces enough vegetables to feed the community.
Pull Idioms & Phrases
Pull one's weight
To do one's share of work.
Everyone on the team needs to pull their weight.
Pull together
To work jointly towards a common goal.
We can succeed if we pull together.
Pull no punches
To be direct and unrestrained in criticism.
In the meeting, he pulled no punches about the project's flaws.
Pull rank
To use one's higher status to gain advantage.
He pulled rank to get the office with a view.
Pull the wool over someone's eyes
To deceive or trick someone.
He tried to pull the wool over her eyes, but she was too smart.
Pull someone's leg
To joke or tease someone.
Don't get upset; I was just pulling your leg!
Pull through
To recover from a serious illness or overcome difficulties.
After a long struggle in the hospital, he pulled through.
Pull the plug
To stop or discontinue something.
The network pulled the plug on the failing show.
Pull a fast one
To deceive or trick someone cleverly.
He pulled a fast one on us with that fake deal.
Pull strings
To use influence to get what one wants.
She pulled strings to get her son into the college.
Pull oneself together
To regain control of one's emotions.
She pulled herself together and faced the crowd.
Pull off
To succeed unexpectedly in doing something.
It was surprising how well he pulled off the presentation.
Pull up stakes
To leave or move from a place.
After five years in the city, they pulled up stakes.
Pull out all the stops
To do everything possible to succeed.
They pulled out all the stops for the product launch.
Pull Example Sentences
She felt a strong pull towards the arts.
The door is stuck; you need to give it a hard pull.
The movie's special effects are sure to pull a big crowd.
The company decided to pull that line of products.
She took a deep pull from her inhaler.
The magnet can pull metal from a distance.
You have to pull the drawer open.
His ability to pull strings got us the best seats.
Their team needs to pull harder if they want to win.
He can pull the most information from the database.
Can you pull this tooth? It's been bothering me.
We'll need to pull together to get through this crisis.
She managed to pull herself together before the interview.
The advertisement will help pull in more customers.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide pull into syllables?
Pull is a single-syllable word: pull.
What is a stressed syllable in pull?
The single syllable in pull, "pull," is stressed.
What is the first form of pull?
The first form of pull is "pull."
How is pull used in a sentence?
Pull is commonly used as a verb to describe exerting force on an object to move it towards oneself.
Why is it called pull?
Pull is called so because it involves exerting force on something towards oneself, deriving from the Middle English word "pullen."
What is the verb form of pull?
Pull itself is the verb form.
What is the second form of pull?
The second form of pull is "pulled."
How many syllables are in pull?
There is one syllable in pull.
What is the pronunciation of pull?
Pull is pronounced as /pʊl/.
What is the opposite of pull?
The opposite of pull is "push."
What is the third form of pull?
The third form of pull is also "pulled."
Is the word pull Gerund?
No, pull is not a gerund; its gerund form would be "pulling."
What is the root word of pull?
The root word of pull is itself "pull," derived from Middle English.
What is the singular form of pull?
The singular form of pull is "pull."
Is the word “pull” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences like "Pull the door," "door" is the direct object, and "pull" is the verb.
What part of speech is pull?
Pull is primarily used as a verb, but it can also be a noun.
What is another term for pull?
Another term for pull is "tug."
Is pull an adverb?
No, pull is not an adverb.
Is pull a negative or positive word?
Pull is a neutral word; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is the word pull imperative?
Pull can be used as an imperative form in commands, such as "Pull the rope!"
Which preposition is used with pull?
Common prepositions used with pull include "towards," "from," and "on." e.g., Pull towards you, Pull from the edge, Pull on the rope.
Which article is used with pull?
The definite article "the" and the indefinite article "a" can be used with pull when it is used as a noun. e.g., Give it a pull, The pull was strong.
Is pull a vowel or consonant?
The word pull starts with a consonant.
Is pull a countable noun?
Yes, as a noun, pull is countable (e.g., several pulls).
Is the pull term a metaphor?
Pull can be used metaphorically, especially when referring to emotional or psychological influence.
Which determiner is used with pull?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "every" can be used with pull depending on the context.
What is the plural form of pull?
The plural form of the noun pull is "pulls"; the verb form does not change.
Is pull a noun or adjective?
Pull can be both a noun and a verb, but it is not an adjective.
Is pull an abstract noun?
No, as a noun, pull is not abstract; it refers to a concrete action.
Is pull a collective noun?
No, pull is not a collective noun.
Which vowel is used before pull?
There is no specific rule for which vowel comes before pull; it depends on the preceding word in the sentence.
Which conjunction is used with pull?
Conjunctions such as "and," "but," and "or" can be used with pull depending on the sentence structure.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Marginalise Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Firm up Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
