1pull 
/ˈpʊl/ verb
pulls; pulled; pull·ing /ˈpʊl/ verb 1 : to hold onto and move (someone or something) in a particular direction and especially toward yourself [+ obj] ▪ He pulled the door open and ran out. ▪ The cat will scratch you if you keep pulling its tail. ▪ Make a knot in the rope and pull it tight. ▪ Pull the baby's chair closer to the table. ▪ She pulled the blanket over her head. [no obj] ▪ We tried pushing and pulling but couldn't get the couch to move. ▪ Grab the end of the rope and pull as hard as you can. 2 [+ obj] : to remove (something) by gripping it and using force
▪ We spent the morning in the garden pulling weeds. ▪ I accidentally pulled one of the buttons off my shirt. ▪ The dentist said I have to have two teeth pulled. [=extracted] ▪ He pulled the cork (out) and poured the wine. ▪ He pulled the plug out of the socket. 3 [+ obj] a : to cause (something you are holding or something that is attached to you) to move with you as you go in a particular direction
▪ Horses pull carriages around the park. ▪ She was pulling a wagon behind her.
b : to cause (something) to move or be directed toward something
▪ The colors pull [=draw] the eye toward the center of the painting. 4 always followed by an adverb or preposition a [no obj] of a car, train, etc. : to move from or to a particular place
▪ The car pulled out of the driveway. ▪ The train pulled into the station [=arrived at the station] right on time. ▪ I made it to the bus stop just when the bus was pulling away/out. [=was leaving]
b : to move a vehicle from or to a particular place [no obj] ▪ Look both ways before pulling out (into traffic). ▪ It's a tight squeeze, so be careful pulling in. ▪ He pulled into the parking space. ▪ We'll have to pull off the highway. ▪ She pulled away from the curb and into traffic. [+ obj] ▪ He slowly pulled the car into traffic. ▪ Pull the car into the garage. 5 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] of a car, wheel, etc. : to move to the left or right instead of straight ahead when traveling forward
▪ I need to get the alignment of the car fixed because when I drive it pulls [=drifts] to the right/left. ▪ The wheel pulls left. 6 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to move (your body or a part of your body) in a particular direction or to a particular position [+ obj] ▪ She wore her hair pulled back in a ponytail. ▪ At my age, it can be hard to pull yourself up from the couch. ▪ I tried to grab his hand but he pulled it away. [no obj] ▪ When I leaned over to kiss her, she pulled away. 7 [+ obj] : to move (a trigger, lever, etc.) in order to operate a device or machine
▪ He pulled the trigger, but the gun didn't fire. ▪ She dropped in a quarter and pulled the slot machine's lever. 8 : to move a boat through water using oars : row [no obj] ▪ The crew pulled toward shore. [+ obj] ▪ The crew pulled the boat toward shore. 9 [+ obj] a : to remove (someone or something) from a place or situation
▪ The pitcher was pulled (from the game) [=was taken out of the game] in the third inning.
b : to take (something) away
▪ The police pulled his driver's license for drunk driving. = He had his license pulled for drunk driving. ▪ The project was well-funded until a few companies pulled [=withdrew] their sponsorship. 10 [+ obj] : to take (a weapon) out of a pocket or other hidden place
▪ He went into the store and pulled a gun on the cashier. [=took out a gun and pointed it at the cashier] ▪ Somone pulled a knife on him and threatened to stab him. 11 [+ obj] : to do (something)
▪ They pulled [=carried out] a robbery. ▪ I pulled [=worked] two double shifts at the restaurant this week. ▪ She loved to pull [=play] tricks/jokes on her brother. ▪ Don't you ever pull a crazy stunt like that again! ▪ To finish my paper for class, I had to pull an all-nighter. [=stay awake all night working] 12 [+ obj] : to hurt (a muscle, tendon, or ligament) by stretching it too much
▪ She pulled [=strained] a muscle in her back when she tried to reach the top shelf. 13 [+ obj] sports : to hit (a ball) toward the left from a right-handed swing or toward the right from a left-handed swing
▪ (baseball) He pulled the ball down the left-field line. ▪ (golf) She pulled her drive into the rough. — compare push 14 [+ obj] informal : to behave like (a particular person)
▪ Whenever anyone forgot where they had parked the car, we'd say they “pulled a Dave.” [=they did something that Dave often does] 15 Brit, informal : to attract (someone) sexually [+ obj] ▪ He had a brief affair with a girl he pulled in a bar. [no obj] ▪ She's wearing a short skirt hoping it will help her pull tonight.
▪ We spent the morning in the garden pulling weeds. ▪ I accidentally pulled one of the buttons off my shirt. ▪ The dentist said I have to have two teeth pulled. [=extracted] ▪ He pulled the cork (out) and poured the wine. ▪ He pulled the plug out of the socket.
▪ Horses pull carriages around the park. ▪ She was pulling a wagon behind her.
b : to cause (something) to move or be directed toward something
▪ The colors pull [=draw] the eye toward the center of the painting.
▪ The car pulled out of the driveway. ▪ The train pulled into the station [=arrived at the station] right on time. ▪ I made it to the bus stop just when the bus was pulling away/out. [=was leaving]
b : to move a vehicle from or to a particular place [no obj] ▪ Look both ways before pulling out (into traffic). ▪ It's a tight squeeze, so be careful pulling in. ▪ He pulled into the parking space. ▪ We'll have to pull off the highway. ▪ She pulled away from the curb and into traffic. [+ obj] ▪ He slowly pulled the car into traffic. ▪ Pull the car into the garage.
▪ I need to get the alignment of the car fixed because when I drive it pulls [=drifts] to the right/left. ▪ The wheel pulls left.
▪ He pulled the trigger, but the gun didn't fire. ▪ She dropped in a quarter and pulled the slot machine's lever.
▪ The pitcher was pulled (from the game) [=was taken out of the game] in the third inning.
b : to take (something) away
▪ The police pulled his driver's license for drunk driving. = He had his license pulled for drunk driving. ▪ The project was well-funded until a few companies pulled [=withdrew] their sponsorship.
▪ He went into the store and pulled a gun on the cashier. [=took out a gun and pointed it at the cashier] ▪ Somone pulled a knife on him and threatened to stab him.
▪ They pulled [=carried out] a robbery. ▪ I pulled [=worked] two double shifts at the restaurant this week. ▪ She loved to pull [=play] tricks/jokes on her brother. ▪ Don't you ever pull a crazy stunt like that again! ▪ To finish my paper for class, I had to pull an all-nighter. [=stay awake all night working]
▪ She pulled [=strained] a muscle in her back when she tried to reach the top shelf.
▪ (baseball) He pulled the ball down the left-field line. ▪ (golf) She pulled her drive into the rough. — compare push
▪ Whenever anyone forgot where they had parked the car, we'd say they “pulled a Dave.” [=they did something that Dave often does]
pull a fast one
informal : to deceive or trick someone
▪ Be careful. Someone might try to pull a fast one on you.
▪ Be careful. Someone might try to pull a fast one on you.
pull ahead [phrasal verb]
: to take the lead in a race, competition, contest, etc.
▪ The two runners were side by side until one pulled ahead. ▪ She pulled ahead in the race. ▪ He has pulled ahead of the other candidates in the election polls.
▪ The two runners were side by side until one pulled ahead. ▪ She pulled ahead in the race. ▪ He has pulled ahead of the other candidates in the election polls.
pull apart [phrasal verb] 1 a : to be separated into parts or pieces by pulling
▪ The rolls pull apart easily.
b pull (something) apart or pull apart (something) : to separate or break (something) into parts or pieces
▪ She pulled the rolls apart with her hands. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ His gambling problem is pulling the family apart. [=is destroying the family] 2 pull (people or animals) apart or pull apart (people or animals) : to separate (people or animals) in order to stop a fight
▪ Customers stepped in and pulled the two men apart. [=separated the two men who were fighting]
▪ The rolls pull apart easily.
b pull (something) apart or pull apart (something) : to separate or break (something) into parts or pieces
▪ She pulled the rolls apart with her hands. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ His gambling problem is pulling the family apart. [=is destroying the family]
▪ Customers stepped in and pulled the two men apart. [=separated the two men who were fighting]
pull aside [phrasal verb]
pull (someone) aside : to take (someone) to one side away from other people for a private conversation
▪ The reporter pulled me aside and asked if I knew who was in charge.
▪ The reporter pulled me aside and asked if I knew who was in charge.
pull at [phrasal verb]
pull at (something) 1 : to hold onto and pull (something) repeatedly
▪ When she gets nervous, she pulls at [=pulls on] her ear. 2 : to breathe in the smoke from (a cigarette, pipe, etc.)
▪ He rocked back and forth, pulling at [=pulling on] his pipe.
▪ When she gets nervous, she pulls at [=pulls on] her ear.
▪ He rocked back and forth, pulling at [=pulling on] his pipe.
pull away [phrasal verb]
: to begin to move farther ahead in a race, competition, contest, etc.
▪ They pulled away in the second half and won the game easily. — often + from ▪ In the final lap, he pulled away from the other cars and won.
▪ They pulled away in the second half and won the game easily. — often + from ▪ In the final lap, he pulled away from the other cars and won.
pull back [phrasal verb] 1 : to decide not to do something that you had intended to do or started to do
▪ The buyers of the house pulled back [=pulled out] at the last minute. 2 pull back or pull back (someone or something) or pull (someone or something) back : to move back from a place or position or to cause (someone or something) to move back from a place or position
▪ The soldiers were outnumbered and were forced to pull back. [=retreat, withdraw] ▪ The general pulled his army back. 3 pull (something) back or pull back (something) Brit, sports : to score (a goal, point, etc.) so that you are not as far behind in a game as you were before
▪ They were behind 2–0 but they pulled back a goal [=they scored a goal to make the score 2–1] early in the second half.
▪ The buyers of the house pulled back [=pulled out] at the last minute.
▪ The soldiers were outnumbered and were forced to pull back. [=retreat, withdraw] ▪ The general pulled his army back.
▪ They were behind 2–0 but they pulled back a goal [=they scored a goal to make the score 2–1] early in the second half.
pull down [phrasal verb] 1 pull down (something) or pull (something) down a : to move (something) down
▪ I pulled down the shade. ▪ He always wears his baseball cap pulled down over his eyes.
b : to destroy (a building) completely
▪ The wreckers pulled down [=demolished] the building.
c : to make (something) smaller in amount or number : to reduce or lower (something)
▪ The rumors that the company was filing for bankruptcy pulled stock prices down. 2 pull down (someone) or pull (someone) down US, informal : to cause (someone) to become sad or depressed
▪ The loss really pulled the team down. [=brought the team down] 3 pull down (something) informal a : to earn (a particular and usually large amount of money)
▪ He pulls down [=makes, pulls in] more than a million dollars a year.
b : to get (something)
▪ The show has pulled down high ratings.
▪ I pulled down the shade. ▪ He always wears his baseball cap pulled down over his eyes.
b : to destroy (a building) completely
▪ The wreckers pulled down [=demolished] the building.
c : to make (something) smaller in amount or number : to reduce or lower (something)
▪ The rumors that the company was filing for bankruptcy pulled stock prices down.
▪ The loss really pulled the team down. [=brought the team down]
▪ He pulls down [=makes, pulls in] more than a million dollars a year.
b : to get (something)
▪ The show has pulled down high ratings.
pull for [phrasal verb]
pull for (someone or something) US, informal : to say or show that you hope (someone or something) will succeed, get well, etc.
▪ I hope you're feeling better soon. We're all pulling for you (to get well). ▪ I'm pulling [=rooting] for the home team.
▪ I hope you're feeling better soon. We're all pulling for you (to get well). ▪ I'm pulling [=rooting] for the home team.
pull in [phrasal verb] 1 : to arrive at a place and come to a stop
▪ “When are our guests coming?” “I think they just pulled in.” ▪ The train pulled in on time. 2 pull in (someone or something) or pull (someone or something) in : to attract (someone or something)
▪ We hope the display will pull customers in from the street. ▪ She's trying to pull in more votes. 3 pull in (something) also pull (something) in informal : to earn (a particular and usually large amount of money)
▪ After just a couple of years at the firm, she was pulling in [=pulling down, making] more than $100,000. 4 pull (someone) in : to bring (someone) to a police station : to arrest (someone)
▪ The police pulled him in for questioning.
▪ “When are our guests coming?” “I think they just pulled in.” ▪ The train pulled in on time.
▪ We hope the display will pull customers in from the street. ▪ She's trying to pull in more votes.
▪ After just a couple of years at the firm, she was pulling in [=pulling down, making] more than $100,000.
▪ The police pulled him in for questioning.
pull off [phrasal verb]
pull off (something) or pull (something) off 1 : to remove (something) from something else : to take off (something)
▪ He pulled off the covers of the bed. ▪ She pulled her boots off. 2 informal : to do (something difficult) successfully
▪ We were doubtful the plan would work, but he managed to pull it off. ▪ The team pulled off a win/upset.
▪ He pulled off the covers of the bed. ▪ She pulled her boots off.
▪ We were doubtful the plan would work, but he managed to pull it off. ▪ The team pulled off a win/upset.
pull on [phrasal verb] 1 pull on (something) : to hold onto and pull (something) repeatedly
▪ When she gets nervous, she pulls on [=pulls at] her ear. 2 : to breathe in the smoke from (a cigarette, pipe, etc.)
▪ He rocked back and forth, pulling on [=pulling at] his pipe. 3 pull on (something) or pull (something) on : to dress yourself in (clothing)
▪ She quickly pulled on [=put on] her clothes/sweater.
▪ When she gets nervous, she pulls on [=pulls at] her ear.
▪ He rocked back and forth, pulling on [=pulling at] his pipe.
▪ She quickly pulled on [=put on] her clothes/sweater.
pull out [phrasal verb] 1 : to decide not to do something that you had intended to do or started to do
▪ The buyers of the house pulled out at the last minute. 2 pull out or pull out (someone or something) or pull (someone or something) out : to leave a place or position or to cause (someone or something) to leave a place or position
▪ The invading army was outnumbered and was forced to pull out. [=withdraw] ▪ Military leaders have decided to pull the troops out of the war zone. ▪ Organizations are pulling out of the country [=are leaving the country] due to threats of civil war. — see also pullout
▪ The buyers of the house pulled out at the last minute.
▪ The invading army was outnumbered and was forced to pull out. [=withdraw] ▪ Military leaders have decided to pull the troops out of the war zone. ▪ Organizations are pulling out of the country [=are leaving the country] due to threats of civil war. — see also pullout
pull over [phrasal verb] 1 pull over or pull over (something) or pull (something) over : to move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop
▪ Let's pull over and look at the map. ▪ He pulled the car over to look at the map. 2 pull over (someone or something) or pull (someone or something) over : to force (a driver or vehicle) to move to the side of the road and stop
▪ He was pulled over (by the police) for speeding.
▪ Let's pull over and look at the map. ▪ He pulled the car over to look at the map.
▪ He was pulled over (by the police) for speeding.
pull through [phrasal verb] 1 : to survive a serious illness, injury, operation, etc.
▪ We sat in the hospital waiting room praying that he would pull through. [=live] 2 a pull through or pull through (something) : to get through a difficult situation
▪ I'm sure that the company will pull through, just as it has in difficult times in the past. ▪ It was a bad time for my family, but we managed to pull through it.
b pull (someone or something) through : to help (someone or something) to continue to live or succeed in a dangerous or difficult situation
▪ His determination pulled him through. ▪ Outside financial help is needed to pull the company through its troubles.
▪ We sat in the hospital waiting room praying that he would pull through. [=live]
▪ I'm sure that the company will pull through, just as it has in difficult times in the past. ▪ It was a bad time for my family, but we managed to pull through it.
b pull (someone or something) through : to help (someone or something) to continue to live or succeed in a dangerous or difficult situation
▪ His determination pulled him through. ▪ Outside financial help is needed to pull the company through its troubles.
pull together [phrasal verb] 1 : to work together as a group in order to get something done
▪ It was amazing to see so many people pull together to help the poor. 2 a pull together (someone or something) or pull (someone or something) together : to bring (people or things) together and organize them in order to make or do something
▪ She managed to pull a team of researchers together. ▪ He started his research by pulling together all the available data.
b pull together (something) or pull (something) together : to make (something) by bringing together different things
▪ The chef pulled together a menu of American and Italian cuisine. ▪ The boss asked her to pull a brief sales report together. 3 pull (yourself) together : to become calm again : to control your emotions and behavior after you have been very upset, emotional, etc.
▪ I know you're upset, but you need to pull yourself together. [=calm down]
▪ It was amazing to see so many people pull together to help the poor.
▪ She managed to pull a team of researchers together. ▪ He started his research by pulling together all the available data.
b pull together (something) or pull (something) together : to make (something) by bringing together different things
▪ The chef pulled together a menu of American and Italian cuisine. ▪ The boss asked her to pull a brief sales report together.
▪ I know you're upset, but you need to pull yourself together. [=calm down]
pull up [phrasal verb] 1 pull up (something) or pull (something) up a : to move (something) up
▪ I pulled up the shade.
b : to move (something) forward or into a position where it can be seen, used, etc.
▪ Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. ▪ Give me a moment to pull up your file on the computer. 2 pull up or pull (something) up or pull up (something) : to stop a vehicle at a particular place
▪ We pulled up in front of the house. ▪ He pulled up next to me at the stoplight. ▪ He pulled the car up in front of the house. 3 pull up : to stop suddenly before completing something
▪ A muscle spasm caused him to pull up halfway through the race. ▪ She started to answer and then pulled up short. 4 pull (someone) up Brit, informal : to criticize (someone) severely for doing something
▪ Her boss pulled her up for/on being late.
▪ I pulled up the shade.
b : to move (something) forward or into a position where it can be seen, used, etc.
▪ Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. ▪ Give me a moment to pull up your file on the computer.
▪ We pulled up in front of the house. ▪ He pulled up next to me at the stoplight. ▪ He pulled the car up in front of the house.
▪ A muscle spasm caused him to pull up halfway through the race. ▪ She started to answer and then pulled up short.
▪ Her boss pulled her up for/on being late.
