What does "pull" mean?
An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself).
Pull
/pʊl/ intj, noun, verb, slang
intj, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself).
- Grammar: pull is listed as intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: attract, drag, draw, abandon.
- Useful contrasts: careless shove, constant push, continuous push.
- Usage evidence: Pull your car out a bit, I can't back my car out.
How to use "pull"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pull" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pull" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pull" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pull" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pull" is acting as intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "attract" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pull", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself). countable
"He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out."
- 2 the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you wordnet
- 3 An attractive force which causes motion towards the source. uncountable
"The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant."
- 4 a sustained effort wordnet
- 5 An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing. figuratively, uncountable
"The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients."
Show 22 more definitions
- 6 a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke) wordnet
- 7 The power to influence someone or something; sway, clout. figuratively, informal, uncountable
"I don't have a lot of pull within the company."
- 8 a device used for pulling something wordnet
- 9 Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope. countable
"a zipper pull"
- 10 special advantage or influence wordnet
- 11 A randomized selection from a given set. countable, figuratively
"card pull"
- 12 the force used in pulling wordnet
- 13 A randomized selection from a given set.; A high-quality or funny recommendation by the algorithm. Internet, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"mythical FYP pull"
- 14 a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments wordnet
- 15 A randomized selection from a given set.; A player's use of a game's gacha mechanic to obtain a random reward. countable, figuratively, uncountable
- 16 Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest; advantage. countable, dated, figuratively, slang, uncountable
"In weights the favourite had the pull."
- 17 Appeal or attraction. figuratively, uncountable
"the pull of a movie star"
- 18 The act or process of sending out a request for data from a server by a client. Internet, countable, uncountable
"server pull"
- 19 A journey made by rowing. countable
"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."
- 20 A contest; a struggle. countable, dated, uncountable
"a wrestling pull"
- 21 An injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.; strain; sprain. countable
"They used steroids to build strength but, more importantly, to recover from strains, pulls, dislocations."
- 22 Loss, misfortune, or violence suffered. countable, obsolete, poetic, uncountable
"Two pulls at once; / His lady banished, and a limb lopped off."
- 23 A drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage; a mouthful or swig of a drink. colloquial, countable
"Heah, Sam Johnsing, jis' take a pull at dis bottle, an' it will make yo' feel better."
- 24 A 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. countable, uncountable
"The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket."
- 25 A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path. countable, uncountable
- 26 A single impression from a handpress. countable, historical, uncountable
- 27 A proof sheet. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. intransitive, transitive
"When I give the signal, pull the rope."
- 2 strain abnormally wordnet
- 3 To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.).
"to pull fruit from a tree"
- 4 remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract wordnet
- 5 To attract or net; to pull in. transitive
"Television, a favored source of news and information, pulls the largest share of advertising monies."
Show 42 more definitions
- 6 take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for wordnet
- 7 To persuade (someone) to have sex with one. Ireland, UK, ambitransitive, slang
"I pulled at the club last night."
- 8 remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense wordnet
- 9 To interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex). US, ambitransitive, slang
"Wow, Joyce pulls, actually."
- 10 strip of feathers wordnet
- 11 To remove or withdraw (something), especially from public circulation or availability. transitive
"Each day, they pulled the old bread and set out fresh loaves."
- 12 hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing wordnet
- 13 To retrieve or look up for use. transitive
"I'll have to pull a part number for that."
- 14 cause to move by pulling wordnet
- 15 To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.
"It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work."
- 16 direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes wordnet
- 17 To do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker. informal, transitive
"He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14."
- 18 tear or be torn violently wordnet
- 19 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."
- 20 apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion wordnet
- 21 To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.
- 22 rein in to keep from winning a race wordnet
- 23 To row. intransitive
"It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke."
- 24 operate when rowing a boat wordnet
- 25 To transport by rowing. transitive
"As the man at the oars pulled him across, the scientist said to him, "Do you know astronomy?""
- 26 bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover wordnet
- 27 To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine. transitive
"I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday."
- 28 steer into a certain direction wordnet
- 29 To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
"He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate."
- 30 move into a certain direction wordnet
- 31 To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.). transitive
- 32 cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense wordnet
- 33 To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target. ambitransitive
"…we had to clear a long hallway, run up half way, pull the boss mob to us, and engage."
- 34 perform an act, usually with a negative connotation wordnet
- 35 To score a certain number of points in a sport. UK
"How many points did you pull today, Albert?"
- 36 To hold back, and so prevent from winning.
"The favourite was pulled."
- 37 To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever. dated
- 38 To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)
"Never pull a straight fast ball to leg."
- 39 To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source. UK
"Let's stop at Finnigan's. The barman pulls a good pint."
- 40 To take a swig or mouthful of drink. intransitive
"Danny pulled at his beer and thought for a moment."
- 41 Of a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station; to leave. US
- 42 (Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or to a particular place. intransitive, transitive
"Pull around to the window please."
- 43 To pull over (a driver or vehicle); to detain for a traffic stop. transitive
"The state trooper pulled me for going 60 in a 55 zone."
- 44 To repeatedly stretch taffy in order to achieve the desired stretchy texture. intransitive, transitive
- 45 To retrieve source code or other material from a source control repository.
- 46 In practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid injuring one's practice partner.
- 47 To impede the progress of (a horse) to prevent its winning a race. transitive
"'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.'"
Intj
- 1 Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.
Antonyms
careless shoveconstant pushcontinuous pushdanish skubbe
Example
"Pull your car out a bit, I can't back my car out."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pull"?
Common synonyms include: attract, drag, draw, abandon, accomplish, adduct.
How do you use "pull" in a sentence?
Pull your car out a bit, I can't back my car out.
How do you pronounce "pull"?
Pronounced /pʊl/.
Etymology
Verb from Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian (“to pull, draw, tug, pluck off”), of uncertain ultimate origin. Related to West Frisian pûlje (“to shell, husk”), Middle Dutch pullen (“to drink”), Middle Dutch polen (“to peel, strip”), Low German pulen (“to pick, pluck, pull, tear, strip off husks”), Icelandic púla (“to work hard, beat”). Noun from Middle English pul, pull, pulle, from the verb pullen (“to pull”).