pull

noun

UK /pʊl/

Word Forms

singular	pull
plural	pulls

1
countable the act of moving something towards you or away from where it was
give a pull:
Mark gave a quick pull on the rope.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
2
countable a strong physical force that causes things to move in a particular direction
pull of:
the pull of gravity
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
3
singular the power that something or someone has to attract people
the pull of travel in foreign lands
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being attractive
appeal
character
charm
1. 3a
  mainly Americanthe power that someone has to get what they want, usually because they have influence over other people
  She has a lot of pull in that company.
  Synonyms and related words
  Power, authority, influence and leadership
  leadership
  power
  authority

phrases

a long pull

on the pull

take a pull

pull

noun

US /pʊl/

Word Forms

singular	pull
plural	pulls

1
countable the act of moving something toward you or away from where it was
give a pull:
Mark gave a quick pull on the rope.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
2
countable a strong physical force that causes things to move in a particular direction
pull of:
the pull of gravity
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
3
singular the power that something or someone has to attract people
the pull of travel in foreign lands
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being attractive
appeal
character
glamor
1. 3a
  the power that someone has to get what they want, usually because they have influence over other people
  She has a lot of pull in that company.
  Synonyms and related words
  Power, authority, influence and leadership
  oligopoly
  superpower
  heft

phrases

a long pull

take a pull

on the pull

pull

verb

UK /pʊl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	pull
he/she/it	pulls
present participle	pulling
past tense	pulled
past participle	pulled

1
intransitive/transitive
pull something away from/out of/into etc something:
Help me pull the sofa away from the wall.
I climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over my head.
pull at/on:
The little girl pulled gently at my sleeve.
pull something open/shut:
Jane pulled the door open.
pull something tight:
Don’t pull the string too tight.
Synonyms and related words
To remove by pulling
snatch
rip
draw
1. 1a
  transitive to remove something or someone from inside or under something by moving them towards you
  pull someone out of something:
  A lifeguard had to pull her out of the water.
  pull something from something:
  He pulled a suitcase from beneath the bed.
2. 1b
  transitive to move something along behind you
  Two horses were pulling the plough.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
3. 1c
  transitive to move a handle that controls a machine so that the machine works
  You pull hard on this lever to start the motor.
  She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of equipment work
  activate
  actuate
  coax
2
transitive to use force to remove something that is fixed into or onto something else
I’m going to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.
pull something up:
She was pulling up the weeds.
pull off:
Wash the mushrooms and pull off the stalks.
Synonyms and related words
To remove by pulling
snatch
rip
draw
3
transitive to move your body or part of your body using effort or force
pull something up/out/back etc:
She nearly lost a shoe pulling her foot out of the hole.
Head aching, he slowly pulled himself to his feet.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
4
transitive to injure a muscle by stretching it too much
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
Synonyms and related words
Relating to muscles and tendons
cartilaginous
contract
motor
5
transitive to take a gun or knife out of a pocket and be ready to use it
pull something on someone:
His attacker suddenly pulled a knife on him.
Synonyms and related words
To use a gun
aim
at gunpoint
cock
6
transitive to open or close something that covers a window
Alice pulled the curtains shut.
The shopkeeper pulled down the blinds.
Synonyms and related words
To close or lock something
close off
close up
lock out
Synonyms and related words
To open or unlock something, or to come open
open up
open
try
7
intransitive/transitive if something pulls a person or organization in a particular direction, it makes them want to do something by strongly attracting or influencing them
Her heart pulled one way, her head another.
Factions in the party are pulling in different directions.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel excited, enthusiastic or impressed
inspire
attract
interest
8

pull
or
pull in
transitive if a performer or a performance pulls an audience, a large number of people come to watch them
Synonyms and related words
To perform or entertain, or to be performed
amuse
appear
compère
1. 8a
  transitive mainly Americanif a politician pulls votes, a lot of people vote for them
  Synonyms and related words
  To be a candidate or winner in an election
  campaign
  canvass
  run
9
transitive to suck smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc into your mouth or lungs
pull on/at:
Mrs Harris stood at the door pulling on a cigarette.
Synonyms and related words
Smoking and not smoking
ashtray
cessation
chain-smoke
10
intransitive/transitive Britishinformalif you pull someone, that person is attracted to you in a sexual or romantic way
Synonyms and related words
To start a romantic or sexual relationship
ask out
flirt
chat up

phrases

pull a fast one

pull someone’s leg

pull the other one (it’s got bells on)

pull out all the stops

pull rank (on someone)

pull your socks up

pull strings

pull the strings

pull something to pieces/apart/to bits

pull to a stop/halt

pull a trick/stunt

pull the wool over someone’s eyes

pull yourself together

phrasal verbs

pull ahead

pull apart

pull away

pull back

pull down

pull in

pull into

pull off

pull on

pull out

pull over

pull round

pull through

pull together

pull up

pull

verb

US /pʊl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	pull
he/she/it	pulls
present participle	pulling
past tense	pulled
past participle	pulled

1
intransitive/transitive
pull something away from/out of/into etc. something:
Help me pull the sofa away from the wall.
I climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over my head.
pull at/on:
The little girl pulled gently at my sleeve.
pull something open/shut:
Jane pulled the door open.
pull something tight:
Don’t pull the string too tight.
Synonyms and related words
To remove by pulling
snatch
rip
draw
1. 1a
  transitive to remove something or someone from inside or under something by moving them toward you
  pull someone out of something:
  A lifeguard had to pull her out of the water.
  pull something from something:
  He pulled a suitcase from under the bed.
2. 1b
  transitive to move something along behind you
  Two horses were pulling the plow.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move something by pulling
  drag
  heave
  tear at
3. 1c
  transitive to move a handle that controls a machine so that the machine works
  You pull hard on this lever to unlock the car’s hood.
  She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a machine or piece of equipment work
  activate
  actuate
  coax
2
transitive to use force to remove something that is attached into or onto something else
I’m going to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.
pull something up:
She was pulling up the weeds.
pull off:
Wash the mushrooms and pull off the stalks.
Synonyms and related words
To remove by pulling
snatch
rip
draw
3
transitive to move your body or part of your body using effort or force
pull something up/out/back etc.:
She nearly lost a shoe pulling her foot out of the hole.
Head aching, he slowly pulled himself to his feet.
Synonyms and related words
To move something by pulling
drag
heave
tear at
4
transitive to injure a muscle by stretching it too much
Synonyms and related words
To injure yourself or someone else
injure
harm
wound
Synonyms and related words
Relating to muscles and tendons
cartilaginous
contract
motor
5
transitive to take a gun or knife out of a pocket and be ready to use it
pull something on someone:
His attacker suddenly pulled a knife on him.
Synonyms and related words
To use a gun
aim
at gunpoint
cock
6
transitive to open or close something that covers a window
Alice pulled the curtains shut.
The nurse pulled down the blinds.
Synonyms and related words
To close or lock something
close off
lock out
shut
Synonyms and related words
To open or unlock something, or to come open
open up
undo
unlock
7
intransitive/transitive if something pulls a person or organization in a particular direction, it makes them want to do something by strongly attracting or influencing them
Her heart pulled one way, her head another.
Factions in the party are pulling in different directions.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone feel excited, enthusiastic or impressed
inspire
attract
interest
8

pull
or
pull in
transitive if a performer or a performance pulls an audience, a large number of people come to watch them
Synonyms and related words
To perform or entertain, or to be performed
amuse
appear
compère
1. 8a
  transitive if a politician pulls votes, a lot of people vote for them
  Synonyms and related words
  To be a candidate or winner in an election
  campaign
  canvass
  run
9
transitive to suck smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc. into your mouth or lungs
pull on/at:
Mrs. Harris stood at the door pulling on a cigarette.
Synonyms and related words
Smoking and not smoking
ashtray
cessation
chain-smoke
10
intransitive/transitive Britishinformalif you pull someone, that person is attracted to you in a sexual or romantic way
Synonyms and related words
To start a romantic or sexual relationship
ask out
flirt
chat up

phrases

pull a fast one

pull someone’s leg

pull out all the stops

pull rank (on someone)

pull strings

pull the strings

pull something to pieces/apart

pull to a stop/halt

pull a trick/stunt

pull the wool over someone’s eyes

pull yourself together

phrasal verbs

pull ahead

pull apart

pull away

pull back

pull down

pull in

pull into

pull off

pull on

pull out

pull over

pull round

pull through

pull together

pull up

pull ​‌

pull ​‌

pull ​‌‌‌

pull

pull in

pull ​‌‌‌

pull

pull in

pull

pull

pull

pull