pull

present singular third person pulls · participle present pulling · participle past pulled · past pulled · first person past singular pulled · archaic present second person singular pullest · past second person singular pulled · archaic past second person singular pulledst · present singular third person pulls · archaic present singular third person pulleth · past singular third person pulled · past plural pulled · past subjunctive pulled · participle present pulling · participle past pulled

1. intransitivetransitiveTo apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.

   I pulled the door to after me.

   5 more examples

   When I give the signal, pull the rope.

   Pull your belt tight before starting off, will you?

   He put forth his hand […] and pulled her in.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 8:9

   Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

   All the gravitational mass of the earth pulls toward a single point at the planet's center, overwhelming the miniscule pull of other objects.

   1989 May, John Boslough, “Searching for the Secrets of Gravity”, in National Geographic, volume 175, number 5, page 574

   Synonyms: drag, tow, tug, yank

2. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.).

   pull flax

   3 more examples

   to pull fruit from a tree

   pull a finch

   He and some of his companions one day entered a garden in the suburbs, and having indulged their appetites, desired to know what satisfaction they must make for the fruit they had pulled.

   1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC

3. transitiveTo attract or net; to pull in.

   Television, a favored source of news and information, pulls the largest share of advertising monies.

   2002, Marcella Ridlen Ray, Changing and Unchanging Face of United States Civil Society

   1 more example

   While the pimp can always pull a ho with his magnetism, he can never pull a nun. The nun is too in touch with her own compassionate and honest spirit to react to a spirit as negative and deceitful as that of the pimp.

   2011, Russell Simmons, Chris Morrow, Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All

4. IrelandUKambitransitiveslangTo persuade (someone) to have sex with one.

   I pulled at the club last night.

   2 more examples

   He's pulled that bird over there.

   Grab your coat, love, you've pulled.

   Synonyms: score, score

5. USambitransitiveslangTo interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex).

   Wow, Joyce pulls, actually.

   2025 January 7, David Willis (cartoonist), Jennifer Billingsworth (character), "Coincidence", Dumbing of Age (webcomic)

6. transitiveTo remove or withdraw (something), especially from public circulation or availability.

   Each day, they pulled the old bread and set out fresh loaves.

   1 more example

   The book was due to be released today, but it was pulled at the last minute over legal concerns.

   Synonyms: recall, withdraw, yank

7. transitiveTo retrieve or look up for use.

   I'll have to pull a part number for that.

   2 more examples

   This computer file is incorrect. Can we pull the old version from your backups?

   They'll go through their computer system and pull a report of all your order fulfillment records for the time period you specify.

   2006, Michael Bellomo, Joel Elad, How to Sell Anything on Amazon...and Make a Fortune!

   Synonyms: generate, get, get hold of, get one's hands on, lay one's hands on, obtain, retrieve

8. businessTo obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.

   It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work.

9. informaltransitiveTo do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker.

   What are you trying to pull?

   4 more examples

   He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14.

   You'll be sent home if you pull another stunt like that.

   What are you trying to pull, anyway? You say you want to sell, but you have nothing to offer?! You've got some nerve, kid!

   1995, HAL Laboratory, EarthBound, Nintendo, Super Nintendo Entertainment System

   Faced with an enemy whose largest gun turrets weigh more than the entire ship, Johnston decides that running is boring, and instead pulls a full 180-degree turn and charges straight back at the attacking forces.

   2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 16:22 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022

   Synonyms: carry out, complete, do, execute, perform

10. To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour associated with the person or thing mentioned (with a and the name of a person, place, event, etc.).

    He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.

    1 more example

    They're trying to pull a Watergate on us.

11. To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.
12. intransitiveTo row.

    It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke.

    1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, Chapter VI

13. transitiveTo transport by rowing.

    As the man at the oars pulled him across, the scientist said to him, "Do you know astronomy?"

    2022, Reuben A. Torrey, How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost, page 164

14. transitivehobbiesTo achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.

    I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday.

15. To draw apart; to tear; to rend.

    He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Lamentations 3:11

    1 more example

    If you are going to pull or chop the pork butt, take it out of the smoker when the meat is in the higher temperature range, put it in a large pan, and let it rest, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Using heavy-duty dinner forks, pull the pork butt to shreds.

    2009, Ardie A. Davis, Chef Paul Kirk, America's Best BBQ, page 57

16. transitiveTo strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).
17. ambitransitivevideo gamesTo draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.

    You could also set a fire trap, pull the mob toward it, then send in your pet….

    2007 April 10, John Salerno, “Re: Managing the Command Buttons”, in alt.games.warcraft (Usenet)

    4 more examples

    …we had to clear a long hallway, run up half way, pull the boss mob to us, and engage.

    2003 April 9, Richard Lawson, “Monual's Willful Ignorance”, in alt.games.everquest (Usenet)

    Basically buff pet, have it pull lots of mobs, shield pet, chain heal pet, have your aoe casters finish off hurt mobs once pet gets good aggro.

    2004 October 18, Stush, “Re: focus pull”, in alt.games.dark-age-of-camelot (Usenet)

    This is the only thing that should get you to break off from your position, is to pull something off the healer.

    2005 August 2, Brian, “Re: How to tank Stratholme undead pulls?”, in alt.games.warcraft (Usenet)

    Shield yourself, pull with Mind Blast if you want, or merely pull with SW:P to save mana, then wand, fear if you need to, but use the lowest rank fear.

    2008 August 18, Mark (newsgroups), “Re: I'm a priest now!”, in alt.games.warcraft (Usenet)

18. UKTo score a certain number of points in a sport.

    How many points did you pull today, Albert?

19. hobbiesTo hold back, and so prevent from winning.

    The favourite was pulled.

20. datedmediaTo take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.
21. ball gamesTo strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)

    Never pull a straight fast ball to leg.

    1888, Robert Henry Lyttelton, Cricket, Chapter 2

22. UKTo draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.

    Let's stop at Finnigan's. The barman pulls a good pint.

23. intransitiveTo take a swig or mouthful of drink.

    Danny pulled at his beer and thought for a moment.

    1957, Air Force Magazine, volume 40, page 128

24. USrail transportationOf a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station; to leave.
25. intransitivetransitive(Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or to a particular place.

    Pull around to the window please.

    1 more example

    He pulled the car forward until he was out of the way.

26. transitivegovernmentTo pull over (a driver or vehicle); to detain for a traffic stop.

    The state trooper pulled me for going 60 in a 55 zone.

27. intransitivetransitivecookingTo repeatedly stretch taffy in order to achieve the desired stretchy texture.
28. computingTo retrieve source code or other material from a source control repository.
29. governmentIn practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid injuring one's practice partner.
30. transitivehobbiesTo impede the progress of (a horse) to prevent its winning a race.

    'I never liked Bowler, and I had my suspicions when Captain Ferndale persuaded you to put him up in that race. I did not discover until some time after that he pulled the horse.'

    1897, Nat Gould, Not So Bad After All, page 200

31. imperativegun sportsCommand used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.

plural pulls

1. countableAn act of pulling (applying force toward oneself).

   She took several pulls on her cigarette.

   2 more examples

   He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out.

   I found myself suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput)

   Synonyms: tug, yank

2. uncountableAn attractive force which causes motion towards the source.

   iron fillings drawn by the pull of a magnet

   1 more example

   The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant.

   Synonyms: attraction

3. figurativelyuncountableAn advantage over somebody; a means of influencing.

   The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients.

   1 more example

   Tresham's up to his eyes in dock business and town business, a regular jobmonger, he has no use for anybody who hasn't a pull.

   1944, Henry Christopher Bailey, The Queen of Spades, page 72

4. figurativelyinformaluncountableThe power to influence someone or something; sway, clout.

   I don't have a lot of pull within the company.

   3 more examples

   She wants to work in the villages, and she has a lot of pull with some ministers and there she is, like a political supervisor.

   2016, Antoinette Burton, quoting Shukdev Sharma, Africa in the Indian Imagination, Duke University Press, →ISBN

   I have already put Matthew Williams off for a few days. He wants to see her too, but he doesn't have pull with the director.

   2017, Maggie Blake, Her Haunted Past, Book Venture Publishing LLC, →ISBN, page 126

   If Netflix truly cared about those of us sequestered to our homes, with our shelves of beans and bad-news-addled brains, it would release either a new season of Queer Eye or another season of the similarly soothing Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat to help us bide our time. Alas, I have no pull at Netflix, and neither seems to be coming soon.

   2020 March 27, Bettina Makalintal, “Samin Nosrat's 'Home Cooking' Podcast Will Make Your Quarantine Cooking Better”, in VICE, archived from the original on 06 Dec 2022

   Synonyms: influence, sway

5. countableAny device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope.

   a zipper pull

   Synonyms: handle, knob, lever, rope

6. countablefigurativelyA randomized selection from a given set.

   card pull

   1. InternetcountablefigurativelyuncountableA high-quality or funny recommendation by the algorithm.

      mythical FYP pull

   2. countablefigurativelyuncountablegacha gamesA player's use of a game's gacha mechanic to obtain a random reward.
7. countabledatedfigurativelyslanguncountableSomething in one's favour in a comparison or a contest; advantage.

   In weights the favourite had the pull.

8. figurativelyuncountableAppeal or attraction.

   the pull of a movie star

9. InternetcountableuncountableThe act or process of sending out a request for data from a server by a client.

   server pull

   1 more example

   pull technology

10. countableA journey made by rowing.

    1 more example

    1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life Chapter V As Blunt had said, the burning ship lay a good twelve miles from the Malabar, and the pull was a long and a weary one. Once fairly away from the protecting sides of the vessel that had borne them thus far on their dismal journey, the adventurers seemed to have come into a new atmosphere.

11. countabledateduncountableA contest; a struggle.

    a wrestling pull

    1 more example

    this wrastling pull betweene Corineus and Gogmagog, is reported to have befallen at Douer.

    1609, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, London: […] S[imon] S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, […], →OCLC

12. countableAn injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.; strain; sprain.

    They used steroids to build strength but, more importantly, to recover from strains, pulls, dislocations.

    2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 162

    Synonyms: drag, toke

13. countableobsoletepoeticuncountableLoss, misfortune, or violence suffered.

    Two pulls at once; / His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.

    1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]

14. colloquialcountableA drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage; a mouthful or swig of a drink.

    Heah, Sam Johnsing, jis' take a pull at dis bottle, an' it will make yo' feel better.

    1882, H. Elliott McBride, Well Fixed for a Rainy Day

    2 more examples

    However, both gentlemen were clearly of one mind over the quality of the wine, for they each took a prolonged pull, smacked their lips, and looked hard at each other, as though in silent communion over the excellence of the vintage.

    1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 9

    Sutho took a pull at his Johnny Walker and Coke and laughed that trademark laugh of his and said: `Okay. I'll pay that all right.'

    1996, Jon Byrell, Lairs, Urgers and Coat-Tuggers, Sydney: Ironbark, page 294

15. countableuncountableball gamesA 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.

    The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket.

    1887, R. A. Proctor, Longman's Magazine

16. countableuncountablegolfA mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path.
17. countablehistoricaluncountablemediaA single impression from a handpress.

    "Tell George to come down and bring pulls of his latest plates," confirmed Joolby.

    1934, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], The Bravo of London

18. countableuncountablemediaA proof sheet.