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to pull away

to pull away

86 3.5
To move away from people or a place to create space
  • phrasal verb
  • /pʊl əˈweɪ/
translation icon : alejarse
  • Have fun! I got into my car and pulled away, waving through the window.
  • begin to pull away

But worst of all, we may get pulled away from our authentic selves.

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Examples

  • You pulled away from me in there.

  • After the argument, she decided to pull away from the conversation and focus on herself.

  • OK, So she surprised me and she pulled away really quickly.

  • All I knew was she was pulling away.

  • I'm not gonna let you pull away.

  • Well, I don't know what to tell you about it since I tried to kiss you and you pulled away.

  • As the train begins to pull away, with me on it, the boy makes a bravado leap.

    Academic text (2000)
  • There was an uneasy silence in the car as we pulled away from Seventy-Seven Lower Lane.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • As the car started to pull away, I waved goodbye to my friends at the station.

  • When he felt overwhelmed, he chose to pull away from the situation to regain his composure.

Synonyms

to leave
vsto pull away
1.0

To go away from a place, person, or group

is about beginning to create distance rather than a complete exit
to get out
vsto pull away
1.0

Leave a place or situation

is about beginning to create distance rather than a rapid complete exit
to get out of here
vsto pull away
  • Informal
3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

is about starting to create distance rather than urgent flight or escape
to go away
vsto pull away
709 1.0

To leave a place or person and go somewhere else

is about starting to create distance rather than simply ending presence
to walk away
vsto pull away
632 3.5

Leave a person, place, or situation without taking part anymore

is about beginning to create distance rather than a deliberate final break
to stay away
vsto pull away
590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

is about beginning to create distance rather than sustained avoidance or absence
to withdraw
vsto pull away
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is more about beginning to create distance than full disengagement
to back off
vsto pull away
  • Informal
356 2.8

Move away from someone, or stop taking part in something

is about starting to create distance rather than easing pressure or threat
to move back
vsto pull away
283 1.7

To step away to an earlier place

is about beginning to create distance rather than merely returning to earlier position
to retreat
vsto pull away
235 4.0

To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger

is about beginning to create distance rather than seeking safety or privacy
to pull out
vsto pull away
206 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

is about beginning to create distance rather than ending involvement decisively
to pull back
vsto pull away
162 3.4

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

is about starting to create distance rather than simply moving in reverse
to disengage
vsto pull away
82 5.3

To stop being part of or connected to something

is about starting to create distance rather than simply letting go of contact
to pull out of
vsto pull away
79 3.2

Leave an activity or agreement you had joined

is about beginning to create distance rather than the formal act of leaving
to distance
vsto pull away
77 5.7

To make yourself less involved with someone or something

is about beginning to separate oneself physically or socially rather than lasting detachment
to distance oneself from
vsto pull away
75 7.0

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

is about beginning to move away physically rather than deliberate emotional separation
to back away
vsto pull away
59 3.9

Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure

is about beginning to create distance rather than retracting a commitment fully
to retire
vsto pull away
53 3.8

Move away from people to a quieter place

is about beginning to create distance rather than retiring for solitude or privacy
to push away
vsto pull away
43 3.2

To stop other people from getting close to you emotionally

is about beginning to create distance rather than actively rejecting someone
to recede
vsto pull away
29 4.8

To move back or become less strong

is about starting to create interpersonal distance rather than gradual fading
to disassociate
vsto pull away
16 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

is about beginning to create distance rather than the full termination of ties
to drift away
vsto pull away
15 4.5

To slowly lose contact and closeness with someone

is about the initial move to create distance rather than a slow fading process
to push off
vsto pull away
  • Informal
14 6.8

Leave a place or start a journey

is about starting to create distance rather than casual journey start
to retreat from
vsto pull away
13 4.4

To move back from a place or activity to avoid danger and trouble

is about beginning to create distance rather than strategic withdrawal for safety
to break away
vsto pull away
5 3.6

To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group

is about beginning to create distance rather than forceful or dramatic separation
to draw back
vsto pull away
4 4.1

To move backwards away from something because of fear or surprise

is about beginning to create distance rather than reacting from fear
to dissociate
vsto pull away
3 6.7

To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea

is about beginning to create social or emotional distance rather than formal disassociation
to peel off
vsto pull away
3 4.1

To leave a group and move away in a different direction

is about beginning to create distance rather than changing direction within a group
to rush away
vsto pull away
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is about beginning to create distance rather than rapid hurried exit
to drop off
vsto pull away
1 4.0

To move back from a place or position, often to a safer spot

is about beginning to create distance rather than a slow or surprising decline
to sidle away
vsto pull away
1 7.7

To move quietly to the side and away so people do not notice you

is about beginning to create distance rather than secretive quiet departure

Antonyms

1.0

Connect two things so they become attached

532 2.1

To move closer in space to a person or thing

How Far

to withdraw
466 2.8
to leave
1.0
to pull away
86 3.5
to drift away
15 4.5

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

pull + away

The meaning 'to start moving away / create distance' is directly and compositionaly derived from 'pull' (to move or draw) combined with 'away' (from a place), following the common motion verb + particle pattern. This is a transparent, cross-linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Pull away comes from the simple image of one thing being pulled so it moves away from others, like a car that speeds forward and leaves the rest behind. So, it means 'to start moving away' or 'to create distance' from a place, group, or person.