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to pull

to pull

∞ 1.0
To move something toward you using force, often to remove it
  • verb
  • /pʊl/
: tirar de
  • We're going to pull these forces in here.
  • pull out a book
  • pull back
  • pull apart

Then using a very strong magnet, try to pull the cereal around.

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Examples

  • Maria, I need you to pull yourself together.

  • So just nice and gently pull it down and that's it.

  • I want it to pull across and down.

  • So I normally like to like pull this out a little bit.

  • Grab the skin and pull it like perfect.

  • Before the unit began, Michelle pulled books from the library about various habitats.

    Academic text (2013)
  • A neighbor saw a white Chevy pull up to the house.

  • The children echo the dictated word and segment the sounds, pulling down a tile for each sound.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Coast clear, he reaches into a plastic grocery bag and pulls out a white cardboard box.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Please pull the door open to enter the room.

Synonyms

to get out
vsto pull
∞ 1.0

Take something out of a container like a box or cupboard

is the more general motion of drawing things toward a direction or person
to take out
vsto pull
∞ 1.9

To remove something from a place or container

is the basic physical act of moving something toward you rather than removal only
to pull out
vsto pull
∞ 2.7

To take something out of a place, often with effort

is the broader motion of bringing things toward you, not only extraction
to drag
vsto pull
938 2.0

To pull something along the ground with effort or force someone into a place unwillingly

is the more general inward motion that does not require ground contact
to rip
vsto pull
792 1.7

To tear quickly and forcefully

is the simpler moving act toward you and not necessarily violent tearing
to draw
vsto pull
272 1.0

Pull something out of a place or container

is the general word for moving toward someone rather than this exact sense
to pull off
vsto pull
195 2.7

To take something off from where it is attached

is the general motion toward you that covers this specific detaching action
to extract
vsto pull
175 3.9

To remove something from somewhere, often by effort, or to get information

is the simple physical act of moving toward you, not necessarily a process
to yank
vsto pull
172 4.1

To pull something suddenly and hard

is the neutral action of moving toward you that may be gentler
to rip out
vsto pull
172 4.4

To pull something out quickly and with force, often to remove it completely

is the general motion toward you that may be slower or gentler
to force
vsto pull
161 1.9

To push something so it moves or opens

is specifically the motion toward you and does not include pushing or squeezing
to pull up
vsto pull
155 3.2

To take something out, often with effort, for example weeds or hidden facts

is the general act of moving something toward you rather than specific removal
to pull down
vsto pull
149 3.2

To bring something or someone down from a higher place

is the general inward motion rather than causing collapse or descent
to pluck
vsto pull
125 3.5

To pull something out quickly with the fingers

is the broader action of moving toward yourself, not only quick sharp removal
to tug
vsto pull
95 1.0

To pull something hard, often in a quick way

is the neutral moving action toward you without insisting on sudden force
to tear out
vsto pull
77 4.8

To pull something out with force

is the basic movement toward you rather than the stronger removal focus
to draw out
vsto pull
49 3.8

Remove something from where it is, for example a nail or a secret

is the simple moving action toward you rather than focused extraction
to pull apart
vsto pull
39 3.2

To break something into pieces by hand

is the general moving action toward you but without the repeated light touch
to tear away
vsto pull
33 4.5

To pull something off quickly with force

is the general moving action toward you rather than violent removal
to draw away
vsto pull
30 3.7

To pull something away from where it is, for example a bandage or curtain

is the simpler action of moving toward you without the careful nuance
to pull at
vsto pull
22 3.9

To tug gently with your fingers again and again, often when nervous

is the general moving action toward you not the light repeated touch
to force out
vsto pull
22 4.2

To push something out with effort or pressure

is the opposite directional action, bringing something toward you rather than out
to pull along
vsto pull
10 3.0

To move something by dragging it with effort

is the simpler act of moving toward you, not stressing continuous dragging
to rend
vsto pull
9 8.7

To pull something apart with great force

is the general motion toward you that does not imply violent destruction
to draw in
vsto pull
9 4.0

Pull air into the lungs or small things into a machine

is the broader action of moving toward you not restricted to inward suction
to draw off
vsto pull
3 4.2

To pull something away carefully, for example a bandage or tablecloth

is the basic moving toward you rather than this careful controlled removal
to pull about
vsto pull
  • UK
1 5.5

To drive or move something around without a clear purpose

is the straightforward act of moving toward you not casual repositioning

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To move something away from you using force, often with your hands

Idioms

19 5.2

Do everything possible to make something succeed

17 4.1

To tell someone something that is not true to make them laugh

12 8.3

To trick someone in a clever way so they do not notice

To trick someone by hiding the truth

to pull a face
  • Informal
3 5.5

Make a face to show dislike or discomfort

Find a surprising way to solve a problem at the last moment

to pull teeth
  • Informal
2 7.5

To have a lot of trouble getting someone to give an answer or help

1 5.3

Make people feel deep sadness or pity

1 9.9

Trying to meet someone to start a romantic or sexual relationship

1 4.7

Cheer for a team or person who is expected to lose

To tease someone by saying something that is not true as a joke

to pull your pud
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To waste time instead of working

Save someone from a difficult situation at the last moment

To promise help again and again and then take it away at the last moment

Make your situation better by working hard without help

1 9.9

To make a big embarrassing mistake that others notice

9.9

To make a silly mistake that makes people laugh at you

To become less confident and not try as hard after problems

To start working hard after not doing much

Be quieter and more careful about what you say

3.9

To do your fair share of work in a group

Make up ideas quickly without preparing or checking facts

To suddenly stop helping someone, leaving them in a difficult situation

8.4

To mention being a woman or man to avoid blame and get sympathy

To succeed and then stop others from getting the same chances

9.1

To tell a story in a way that makes what happened sound bigger or not true

To start trying much harder after being lazy

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 2.7

To take something out of a place, often with effort

392 4.1

To manage to do something difficult or unexpected

347 2.8

To move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop

320 3.4

To move yourself and things backward from a place, person, or situation

265 2.8

To stop or slow down a vehicle at a place

228 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

195 2.7

To take something off from where it is attached

155 3.2

To take something out, often with effort, for example weeds or hidden facts

153 3.5

To move away from people or a place to create space

151 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

149 3.2

To bring something or someone down from a higher place

Gather people or things and organize them to reach a goal

To secretly use people you know to get what you want

To stop something from going on by removing support like money

68 3.5

To attract people or attention

To survive a serious illness or danger, often with help from others, and start to get better

47 3.1

To arrive at a station and stop there

42 4.4

To make a person or group stop taking part in something

39 3.2

To break something into pieces by hand

39 3.0

To stand or sit up straight to look more confident

25 4.9

Decide to do something after thinking about it for a while

to pull for
  • Informal
24 4.2

Support someone in a competition or hard situation

22 3.9

To tug gently with your fingers again and again, often when nervous

19 4.1

To earn money from work or business

to pull punches
  • Informal
17 6.7

To hold back criticism or strong action to avoid hurting someone

17 3.6

To gather information or things from different places

Move a handle to make a machine start or stop

13 3.4

To move into a leading position in a race or competition

10 3.0

To move something by dragging it with effort

Hurt a muscle by stretching or straining it too much

6 8.1

To trick someone to gain an advantage

5 7.2

Leave home and move to a new place

5 6.3

Make funny faces to amuse or annoy people

To stop taking part in an agreement you already agreed to

3 8.1

Do something foolish that shocks or angers other people

3 3.8

To demolish a building so it is flat on the ground

3 7.4

Produce a surprising idea that solves a difficult problem

to pull quote
  • Literature
2 4.6

To take a short line from a text and show it separately to get attention

2 4.4

To make a rope or cord tight by stretching it so it is not loose

To stop suddenly before you expect it

to pull wires
  • Informal
1 9.3

To secretly get people to do what you want for personal gain

Close the cover on a window or door by moving it down

1 5.5

To drive or move something around without a clear purpose

Drive a car to the side of the road and stop

Get control of your feelings and calm down after being upset

9.9

Make up facts with no proof, often as a weak excuse

To arrive suddenly to confront someone, often in a challenging way

Compounds

8 3.9

An exercise where you hang from a bar and pull your chin above it

The pull that makes things fall toward Earth or another large body

pull quote
  • Literature
2 4.1

A short quotation from an article shown separately to draw attention

1 3.8

A paved area beside a main road where cars can stop briefly

leg-pull
  • Archaic
1 7.1

A joke that tries to make someone believe a false story for fun

1 4.7

A chain with a handle that you use to turn on a light or flush a toilet

demand-pull inflation
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A rise in prices when people want to buy more things than before

pull-up
  • UK
1 9.5

A small cafe by the road where truck drivers stop to eat and rest

pull-in
  • UK
1 6.5

A roadside place like a cafe where drivers stop to rest and eat

cost-pull inflation
  • Specialized
7.0

A rise in general prices caused by higher production costs like wages and raw materials

pull-through
  • Specialized
8.4

A cloth on a cord with a weight used to clean a gun barrel

How Strong

to heave
19 3.9
to yank
172 4.1
to pull
∞ 1.0
to haul
79 2.5

Surface Forms

pull infinitive
pulled past
pulled past participle
pulling present participle
pulls third person singular

Etymology

Pull comes from an old English word pullen that meant 'to pluck' or 'to draw'. So to pull something is to move it toward you or to take it out.