pull
pull — verb
1. to grip something firmly and apply effort to draw it toward yourself, especially
to grip something firmly and apply effort to draw it toward yourself, especially when it is heavy or stuck
Haruto pulled the heavy wooden door toward him and stepped inside.
pull + object + toward [person]
Sari pulled on the rope until the bucket rose from the well.
pull + on + [object]
The suitcase was too heavy for Beatrix to pull up the stairs alone.
A strong hand pulled Aaron back just before he stepped into the street.
- pull a door
- pull a rope
- pull a handle
- pull a drawer
- push
to move something away from you
Grammar Patterns
pull + object
pull + object + adverb/preposition
Usage Note
Commonly combined with direction words such as 'up', 'aside', 'toward', 'back', and 'open'. Also appears in 'pull on' when referring to a rope, handle, or strap.
Common Mistakes
2. to serve beer from a barrel by operating a hand pump, usually in a pub or bar
to serve beer from a barrel by operating a hand pump, usually in a pub or bar
The bartender pulled a pint of dark ale for the customer.
pull a pint of [drink]
Élise enjoys pulling pints at her local pub on Friday evenings.
Mauricio asked the barman to pull him a cold lager.
The pub owner pulled three pints in under a minute for the lunch crowd.
pull [number] pint[s]
- pull a pint
- pull a beer
- pull a lager
- draw
a more formal or dated word for serving beer from a barrel
Grammar Patterns
pull + a + pint/beer/drink
Usage Note
This sense is most common in British pubs. The expression 'pull a pint' is a fixed phrase that describes the action of operating the hand pump. In American English, bartenders typically use a tap lever rather than a hand pump.
3. to grip an object firmly and bring it out of a place, container, or surface, oft
to grip an object firmly and bring it out of a place, container, or surface, often with some effort
Eli pulled a crumpled tissue from his jacket pocket.
pull + object + from [place]
The dentist had to pull Wei's bad tooth because it was causing pain.
Nia pulled the old nail out of the wooden board with a pair of pliers.
pull + object + out of [place]
Darius pulled the plug from the sink so the water could drain away.
- pull a tooth
- pull a nail
- pull a weed
- pull a splinter
- pull a cork
- insert
to put something into a place
Grammar Patterns
pull + object + out/from/off
Usage Note
Often appears with the adverb 'out' as a separable particle: 'pull out a tooth' or 'pull a tooth out'. The object may be something stuck, embedded, or hidden inside a container or body.
Common Mistakes
4. to decide that something should not be shown, broadcast, or released to the publ
to decide that something should not be shown, broadcast, or released to the public, usually because it is considered offensive, incorrect, or inappropriate
The newspaper pulled the article after readers complained about the errors.
pull + publication [article/ad/book]
Joshua's controversial interview was pulled from the website within hours.
passive: be pulled from [platform]
The publisher decided to pull the book before it reached the stores.
The advertising team pulled the campaign following complaints about its content.
- pull an article
- pull a campaign
- pull an interview
- pull a book
- pull a show
- publish
to make something available to the public
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase (ad/campaign/article/book)
Usage Note
Frequently used in passive voice. The object is typically something published or about to be published: an advertisement, article, TV show, film, book, or social media post. Related idiom: 'pull the plug on something' means to stop it from continuing.
Common Mistakes
5. in sports, to decide that one player must leave the game and be replaced by anot
in sports, to decide that one player must leave the game and be replaced by another
The coach pulled the goalkeeper after he let in three quick goals.
Jessica was pulled from the match in the second half with a leg injury.
passive: be pulled from [game]
The manager pulled their best striker and put a defender in instead.
Nicholas got pulled from the game after receiving a second yellow card.
- pull a player
- pull the goalkeeper
- pull someone from the game
- pull someone off
- substitute
more formal; can mean both sending a player in (sub in) and taking them out (sub off)
- bench
informal; to move a player to the bench and stop them from playing
- send on
to put a substitute into the game
Grammar Patterns
pull + player + from/in [game/match]
Usage Note
Common in team sports such as football, rugby, hockey, and basketball. The coach or manager is the one who 'pulls' a player. The pulled player is usually replaced immediately by a substitute.
6. to steer a car, bicycle, or other vehicle toward a specific place or along a cho
to steer a car, bicycle, or other vehicle toward a specific place or along a chosen route
Aaron pulled the car into the driveway and turned off the engine.
pull + vehicle + into [place]
The truck driver pulled off the highway when he saw the warning sign.
Wei pulled his bicycle to the side of the road to check the tire.
The train slowly pulled out of the station and headed north.
pull out of [place]
- pull into
- pull out of
- pull away
- pull over
- pull up
- pull off
Grammar Patterns
pull + adverb/preposition (into/out of/away/up/over)
Usage Note
This sense is intransitive — the verb must be followed by an adverb or prepositional phrase showing direction. Common combinations include 'pull into' (a space), 'pull out of' (a place), 'pull away' (from something), 'pull over' (to the side of the road), and 'pull up' (to stop).
Common Mistakes
7. to grip a fixed object and use physical effort to lift your body up or shift it
to grip a fixed object and use physical effort to lift your body up or shift it forward, as when climbing or squeezing through a tight space
Talia pulled herself up onto the high diving board without using the ladder.
reflexive: pull + yourself + up/forward
The climber pulled hard on the rope to reach the rocky ledge above.
pull + on + object + infinitive of purpose
Joon pulled himself forward through the narrow tunnel inch by inch.
reflexive + direction word
I pulled on the handrail to get up the steep stairs more easily.
The firefighters pulled themselves up the ladder one rung at a time.
- pull yourself up
- pull yourself forward
- pull on the rope
- pull on the railing
Grammar Patterns
pull + reflexive pronoun + adverb/preposition
pull + on + noun + to + infinitive
Usage Note
Frequently used with reflexive pronouns (pull yourself up, pull himself forward). A direction word (up, forward, through, along) is almost always needed to complete the meaning.
Common Mistakes
8. to make people want to come to a place, event, or activity by being interesting,
to make people want to come to a place, event, or activity by being interesting, exciting, or appealing
The new art exhibition pulled over three hundred visitors on its first day.
pull + number + visitors/crowd
Local bands usually pull a big crowd at the summer music festival.
pull a + (adjective) + crowd
The candidate's speech failed to pull support from undecided voters.
pull + support/funding/interest (abstract noun)
Good museums pull families from all over the region on weekends.
The store's opening sale pulled a long line of customers before dawn.
- pull a crowd
- pull visitors
- pull support
- pull an audience
- repel
to push people away rather than attract them
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase (crowd/audience/support)
Usage Note
Object is typically a group noun (crowd, audience, visitors, voters, customers) rather than a single individual. Can also take abstract nouns like support, interest, or funding.
Common Mistakes
9. to meet someone for the first time at a bar, party, or club and start an intimat
to meet someone for the first time at a bar, party, or club and start an intimate romantic or sexual encounter with them
Mauricio told his friends he pulled someone at the bar last night.
informal: pull someone (at a location)
Élise laughed when her flatmate asked if she had pulled at the party.
informal: pull (no object) — British slang
Darius said he was not trying to pull anyone that evening, just dancing.
The group joked about who would pull first at the wedding reception.
Olivia had never pulled anyone on a night out and did not care either way.
- pull someone
- pull at the club
- pull on a night out
- pick up
more widely understood across dialects; pull is specifically British informal
- hook up with
more American in usage; includes casual sexual encounters but not necessarily starting a relationship
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase (someone)
pull (with no object)
Usage Note
Chiefly British informal slang. The object can be omitted ('Did you pull?') when the context is clear. Avoid this sense in formal or American writing.
Common Mistakes
10. to cause sudden pain in a muscle or tendon by stretching or overusing it during
to cause sudden pain in a muscle or tendon by stretching or overusing it during exercise or other physical movement
Darius pulled a hamstring during the final sprint of the race.
pull + a + specific muscle name
The dancer pulled a muscle in her back after a difficult jump.
pull a muscle (in + body area)
Gita had to stop playing when she pulled her shoulder muscle.
possessive + muscle/body part
Quinn pulled a calf muscle while running up the stairs at work.
The coach told the team to warm up so no one would pull a muscle.
- pull a muscle
- pull a hamstring
- pull a calf muscle
- pull your back
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase (a muscle / possessive + body part)
Usage Note
Almost always takes a muscle or body part as object, usually with an indefinite article ('pull a muscle') or a possessive adjective ('pull his hamstring'). Not used for broken bones or joint injuries.
Common Mistakes
11. to carry out a dishonest, illegal, or mischievous act such as a trick, crime, or
to carry out a dishonest, illegal, or mischievous act such as a trick, crime, or scam
The gang pulled a clever bank heist that no one saw coming.
pull + a + (adjective) + crime noun
Talia pulled a prank on her brother by hiding his phone in the fridge.
pull a prank/trick on + someone
The hackers pulled a data theft that affected thousands of users.
Christopher admitted he had pulled the same trick on his classmates before.
The police arrested three men for pulling a series of scams across the city.
pull + a series of + scams/crimes
- pull a trick
- pull a stunt
- pull a heist
- pull a scam
- pull a prank
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase (a trick / a stunt / a heist / a scam)
Usage Note
Colloquial alternative to commit, carry out, or perpetrate. Common objects include tricks, pranks, stunts, heists, scams, and robberies. Not typically used with murder, assault, or other violent crimes.
Common Mistakes
12. to obtain information from a computer system, website, or database by searching
to obtain information from a computer system, website, or database by searching or requesting it
The app pulls weather data from a government website every hour.
pull + data/noun + from + source
Quinn pulled the customer records from the company database.
You can pull the latest articles directly through the search tool.
pull + noun + through + tool/interface
The system pulls user information from the online registration form.
Mauricio pulled a sales report from the company server before the meeting.
pull + a + report/data + from + source
- pull data
- pull records
- pull information
- pull a report
- pull from a database
- push
in computing, sending data to a system rather than requesting it
Grammar Patterns
pull + noun phrase + from + noun phrase (database/website/source)
Usage Note
Common in computing and data-handling contexts. Often followed by from to specify the source. Similar to retrieve or fetch but slightly more informal.
Common Mistakes
pull ahead
phrasal verbTo move in front of someone or something, especially in a race or competition.
The runner pulled ahead in the last lap.
Our company pulled ahead of the competition this quarter.
pull apart
phrasal verbTo separate something into pieces by pulling, or to criticize something severely.
The child pulled apart the toy to see how it worked.
The critics pulled apart the new novel in their reviews.
pull at
phrasal verbTo take a long pull or draw on something, like a cigarette or drink.
He pulled at his cigarette and stared out the window.
She pulled at her drink nervously during the interview.
pull away
phrasal verbTo move away from something or someone, especially a vehicle starting to move.
The bus pulled away from the stop just as I arrived.
She pulled away when he tried to hug her.
pull back
phrasal verbTo withdraw from a position or decision, or to reduce involvement.
The company pulled back from the deal at the last minute.
He pulled back his hand when he felt the heat.
pull down
phrasal verbTo demolish a building or structure, or to earn a certain amount of money.
They pulled down the old factory to build a park.
She pulls down a six-figure salary as a lawyer.
pull in
phrasal verbTo arrive at a station or stop, or to attract or earn something.
The train pulled in at exactly 8 o'clock.
The new movie pulled in huge audiences on opening weekend.
pull off
phrasal verbTo succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.
She pulled off a stunning victory in the election.
Can we pull off this project before the deadline?
pull on
phrasal verbTo put on clothing by pulling it over your body.
He pulled on his jacket and left the house.
She pulled on her boots before going outside.
pull out
phrasal verbTo leave a place or situation, or to remove something from somewhere.
The car pulled out of the driveway slowly.
They decided to pull out of the agreement.
pull over
phrasal verbTo move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop.
The police officer signaled for him to pull over.
I pulled over to check the map.
pull through
phrasal verbTo survive a serious illness or difficult situation.
The patient pulled through after a long surgery.
With hard work, the company pulled through the crisis.
pull together
phrasal verbTo work together as a group to achieve something, or to organize something.
The team pulled together and finished the project early.
She pulled together a report from various sources.
pull up
phrasal verbTo stop a vehicle, or to move something upward, or to improve one's position.
The taxi pulled up in front of the hotel.
He pulled up a chair and sat down.
pull yourself together
phrasal verbTo calm down and control your emotions after being upset.
After crying, she pulled herself together and continued.
Pull yourself together; we need to focus on the solution.
To have two different uses or jobs at the same time.
My phone serves double duty as a camera and a computer.
This sofa pulls double duty as a bed for guests.
To become more careful, especially by spending less money.
After losing his job, Tom had to pull his horns in.
The company drew its horns in during the economic crisis.
like pulling teeth
idiomUsed to say that getting someone to do something is extremely difficult.
Getting my son to do homework is like pulling teeth.
It was like pulling teeth to get her to talk about her feelings.
To criticize someone or something very harshly.
The critics tore the new movie to pieces.
My boss pulled my report to shreds in the meeting.
To improve your situation through your own efforts without help.
She pulled herself up by her bootstraps and started a business.
He dragged himself up by his own bootstraps after bankruptcy.
To make an ugly expression to show dislike or to make someone laugh.
The little girl pulled a face at her brother.
Why are you making faces during the serious speech?
To trick or deceive someone.
The salesman pulled a fast one on me by hiding the fees.
Did you just pull a fast one on your friend?
To have goals that conflict with each other.
The two departments are pulling in opposite directions.
My personal and professional goals often pull in different directions.
To succeed in a difficult task by making an extra effort or doing something clever.
The team pulled a win out of the bag in the final minute.
She pulled it out of the bag and finished the project on time.
pull somebody’s leg
idiomTo play a joke on someone by making them believe something untrue.
Are you pulling my leg about the surprise party?
I was just pulling your leg; the test isn't tomorrow.
Used to show you do not believe what someone just said.
You won the lottery? Pull the other one!
He said he'd finish early — pull the other one, it's got bells on.
To make the greatest possible effort to achieve something.
The team pulled out all the stops to win the championship.
For her wedding, she pulled out all the stops with decorations.
To stop a project or activity from continuing.
The network pulled the plug on the show after one season.
They pulled the plug on the new software due to bugs.
pull your punches
idiomTo express criticism less strongly than you could, to avoid upsetting someone.
The reviewer didn't pull any punches in her critique.
He pulled his punches when telling her about the mistake.
To suddenly produce a surprising solution to a problem.
The CEO pulled a rabbit out of the hat and saved the company.
Can you pull a solution out of the hat for this crisis?
To use your higher position or status to make someone do what you want.
The manager pulled rank and assigned the task to me.
Don't pull rank on me just because you're older.
To suddenly take away support or help from someone.
The funding cut pulled the rug out from under the project.
His resignation pulled the rug from under our team's plans.
pull your socks up
idiomTo make an effort to improve your performance or behavior.
You need to pull your socks up if you want to pass the exam.
After the warning, he pulled his socks up and worked harder.
To use your influence to get an advantage for someone.
Her uncle pulled strings to get her the job.
He pulled strings for his son to join the club.
pull the strings
idiomTo control events or other people's actions secretly.
The director is the one who pulls the strings behind the scenes.
Who is pulling the strings in this organization?
pull up stakes
idiomTo leave your home or job suddenly to go somewhere else.
They pulled up stakes and moved to Canada last year.
After the divorce, she pulled up stakes and started fresh.
pull your weight
idiomTo do your fair share of the work in a group.
Everyone must pull their weight for the project to succeed.
She's not pulling her weight; we have to do her tasks.
To deceive someone by hiding your true actions or intentions.
He tried to pull the wool over my eyes with fake documents.
Don't let his charm pull the wool over your eyes.
pull — noun
1. the action of using force to draw something closer to you or in the direction yo
the action of using force to draw something closer to you or in the direction you are moving
Lan gave the rope a strong pull, and the boat moved closer to the dock.
pattern: give + noun + a pull
With one quick pull, Noa opened the heavy metal door.
The fisherman felt a pull on his line and knew a fish was biting.
Asher took a deep breath and gave the handle another pull, but the machine still would not start.
pattern: give + noun + another pull
- give + pull
- strong pull
- gentle pull
- quick pull
- feel a pull
- push
the opposite action of moving something away instead of toward you
Grammar Patterns
give + noun + a pull
Usage Note
Often used in the pattern 'give something a pull' or 'with a pull' to describe a single action of pulling.
Common Mistakes
2. a handle, cord, or knob that you operate by pulling it toward you to open someth
a handle, cord, or knob that you operate by pulling it toward you to open something or make something work
The drawer had no handle, only a small metal pull that was hard to grip.
collocation: metal pull
Romi installed a new pull for the closet door so the children could open it easily.
The light above the bed worked with a simple cord pull hanging from the ceiling.
collocation: cord pull
Sade grabbed the bell pull and rang loudly to call the night guard.
- bell pull
- drawer pull
- curtain pull
- door pull
Usage Note
Common in compound forms: bell pull, drawer pull, curtain pull, cord pull.
3. a quality or feature that makes people want to visit a place, attend an event, o
a quality or feature that makes people want to visit a place, attend an event, or choose a product
The main pull of the new park is its huge outdoor swimming pool.
collocation: main pull
For tourists in this city, the biggest pull is the night market with its street food.
collocation: biggest pull
The promise of a high salary was the main pull for Dario when he chose the job.
The circus has lost some of its pull since people started watching shows on television.
- main pull
- biggest pull
- lose its pull
Grammar Patterns
the + pull + of + noun
Usage Note
Often used with 'main' or 'biggest' to identify the most attractive feature of something.
4. the ability to attract people's interest, attention, or loyalty through charm, q
the ability to attract people's interest, attention, or loyalty through charm, quality, or emotional connection
The pull of the big city was too strong for the young artist to resist.
pattern: the pull of [something]
There is a strange pull between the two main characters that keeps readers turning the pages.
Élise felt the pull of her hometown whenever she heard the music of her childhood.
collocation: feel the pull of
The film's pull comes from its story about ordinary people doing brave things.
- pull of the city
- emotional pull
- magnetic pull
- feel the pull
Grammar Patterns
the + pull + of + noun
Usage Note
Often used in the phrase 'the pull of something' to describe the attraction of a place, person, or idea. Unlike sense 3, this sense focuses on the power itself rather than a specific attractive feature.
5. special influence or personal advantage that allows someone to shape decisions o
special influence or personal advantage that allows someone to shape decisions or gain benefits through connections
The old family's pull in local politics meant they could get things done quickly.
pattern: pull in [area/domain]
Christopher used his pull with the school board to get more money for new books.
Without the right pull in this industry, it is hard to find good work.
collocation: have pull
Noor's uncle had some pull at the hospital and helped her get a nursing position there.
- have pull
- political pull
- personal pull
- pull with
Grammar Patterns
have + pull + with + noun
Usage Note
Used informally about personal connections giving advantages. This sense is uncountable, so it cannot be used as 'pulls'.
Common Mistakes
6. a cricket stroke played by swinging the bat sideways across the body, sending th
a cricket stroke played by swinging the bat sideways across the body, sending the ball toward the leg-side boundary
The batter scored four runs with a well-timed pull to the leg side.
Sofie practiced her pull shot every day until she could send the ball past the fielders.
collocation: pull shot
The crowd cheered when the player hit a powerful pull that crossed the boundary.
Manuela learned to play the pull by watching professional cricket matches on television.
pattern: play + a + pull
- pull shot
- play a pull
- hit a pull
7. a physical injury that happens when a muscle or the tissue connecting bones is s
a physical injury that happens when a muscle or the tissue connecting bones is stretched too far or torn, often causing pain and swelling
Aylin felt a sharp pull in her hamstring during the final lap of the race.
pattern: pull + in + body part (hamstring)
The physiotherapist said the pull in his back would heal with rest and gentle stretches.
Arjun's coach told him to stop once he felt any pull in his calf.
A groin pull kept Nora off the football field for three weeks.
collocation: groin pull / hamstring pull / calf pull
Ice packs and rest are the usual treatment for a minor muscle pull.
collocation: muscle pull
- hamstring pull
- groin pull
- calf pull
- muscle pull
- nasty pull
- minor pull
- strain
the standard medical term for this injury; pull is more informal and mainly used in sports
- sprain
a sprain specifically refers to a ligament injury, while a pull can affect either muscle or ligament
- tear
a tear suggests a more severe injury with actual ripping of tissue, whereas a pull is usually mild to moderate
Grammar Patterns
pull + in + body part
body-part + pull
Usage Note
Frequently used in sports and exercise contexts. The noun pull often appears with a body-part modifier (a hamstring pull, a groin pull) or the pattern pull + in + body part (a pull in the calf). The verb form (He pulled a muscle) is more common in everyday conversation than the noun form.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five describe moving something toward you or in a particular direction, but they differ in effort, duration, and type of contact. Pull is the most general and neutral word — you can pull a door, a rope, a tooth, or a muscle without sounding dramatic. Drag specifically implies pulling something heavy along a surface, often with resistance (drag a suitcase across the floor, drag a sofa down the stairs). Tug describes a short, sharp, repeated action (tug on someone's sleeve to get their attention) rather than sustained effort. Haul suggests moving something very heavy over a distance, frequently with mechanical help or great physical exertion (haul furniture up three flights of stairs). Draw is more formal and often suggests a smooth, controlled motion without the roughness of drag or haul (draw a curtain, draw a sword). In everyday speech, pull is by far the most common; the others add a specific flavour of effort, formality, or repetition.
Common collocations
Etymology
Old English pullian (first recorded around AD 1000), meaning 'to pluck' (as in feathers or hair) or 'to draw toward with physical effort.' The word's origin is uncertain — no clear ancestor exists in most other Germanic languages, though similar forms appear in Middle Dutch (pullen, 'to drink from a cask') and Old Norse (púla, 'to rub or beat'). This suggests pull may have been a regional West Germanic word that entered standard English during the Old English period. Over the centuries pull expanded from concrete physical pulling (doors, ropes, teeth) into an extraordinary range of abstract and specialised uses: attracting attention, influencing decisions, serving drinks, committing crimes, retrieving data, and injuring muscles.