PULL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pull mean? 

• PULL (noun)
  The noun PULL has 7 senses:

1. the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

2. the force used in pulling

3. special advantage or influence

4. a device used for pulling something

5. a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments

6. a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke)

7. a sustained effort

  Familiarity information: PULL used as a noun is common.

• PULL (verb)
  The verb PULL has 17 senses:

1. cause to move by pulling

2. direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

3. move into a certain direction

4. apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion

5. perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

6. bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover

7. steer into a certain direction

8. strain abnormally

9. cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense

10. operate when rowing a boat

11. rein in to keep from winning a race

12. tear or be torn violently

13. hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing

14. strip of feathers

15. remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense

16. take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for

17. take away

  Familiarity information: PULL used as a verb is very familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PULL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

pull; pulling

Context example:

his strenuous pulling strained his back

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pull"):

draw; haul; haulage (the act of drawing or hauling something)

drag (the act of dragging (pulling with force))

traction ((orthopedics) the act of pulling on a bone or limb (as in a fracture) to relieve pressure or align parts in a special way during healing)

pluck (the act of pulling and releasing a taut cord)

draft; draught; drawing (the act of moving a load by drawing or pulling)

jerk; tug (a sudden abrupt pull)

deracination; excision; extirpation (the act of pulling up or out; uprooting; cutting off from existence)

Derivation:

pull (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

pull (cause to move by pulling)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The force used in pulling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Context example:

the pull of the current

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

force ((physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity)

Derivation:

pull (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Special advantage or influence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

clout; pull

Context example:

the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

advantage; vantage (the quality of having a superior or more favorable position)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A device used for pulling something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he grabbed the pull and opened the drawer

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pull"):

bellpull (a handle or cord that is pulled to ring a doorbell or a servant's bell etc.)

pull chain (a chain (usually with a handle at the end) that is pulled in order to operate some mechanism (e.g. to flush a toilet))

Derivation:

pull (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A sharp strain on muscles or ligaments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

pull; twist; wrench

Context example:

he was sidelined with a hamstring pull

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

harm; hurt; injury; trauma (any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pull"):

sprain (a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments)

Derivation:

pull (strain abnormally)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

drag; puff; pull

Context example:

he took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

aspiration; breathing in; inhalation; inspiration; intake (the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pull"):

toke (a puff of a marijuana or hashish cigarette)

Holonyms ("pull" is a part of...):

smoke; smoking (the act of smoking tobacco or other substances)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A sustained effort

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

it was a long pull but we made it

Hypernyms ("pull" is a kind of...):

effort; elbow grease; exertion; sweat; travail (use of physical or mental energy; hard work)

Derivation:

pull (perform an act, usually with a negative connotation)

• PULL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to move by pulling

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

draw; pull

Context example:

pull a sled

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Verb group:

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

draw; pull (cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

pick off; pluck; pull off; tweak (pull or pull out sharply)

winch (pull or lift up with or as if with a winch)

jerk; yank (pull, or move with a sudden movement)

attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

cart; drag; hale; haul (draw slowly or heavily)

drag (pull, as against a resistance)

tug (pull or strain hard at)

stretch (pull in opposite directions)

abduct (pull away from the body)

adduct (draw a limb towards the body)

pull back (move to a rearward position; pull towards the back)

twitch (move or pull with a sudden motion)

pick; pluck; plunk (pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

push (move with force)

Also:

pull off (pull or pull out sharply)

pull up; pull out (remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense)

pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

pull down (tear down so as to make flat with the ground)

pull back (move to a rearward position; pull towards the back)

pull along (pull along heavily, like a heavy load against a resistance)

Derivation:

puller (someone who pulls or tugs or drags in an effort to move something)

pulling; pull (the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in

Context example:

The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

draw; pull (cause to move by pulling)

Verb group:

draw in; retract (pull inward or towards a center)

curl; curl up; draw in (shape one's body into a curl)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

tug (pull hard)

arrest; catch; get (attract and fix)

draw in; retract (pull inward or towards a center)

bring (attract the attention of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

pull (the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you)

pull (a device used for pulling something)

pull (the force used in pulling)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move into a certain direction

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

the car pulls to the right

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

drive (move by being propelled by a force)

Verb group:

pull (steer into a certain direction)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

cut in (drive in front of another vehicle leaving too little space for that vehicle to maneuver comfortably)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

pull your knees towards your chin

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

force (do forcibly; exert force)

Verb group:

draw; pull (cause to move by pulling)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

twist; wrench (twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates)

draw close (pull towards oneself)

draw back; pull back; retract (use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ))

pick at; pluck at; pull at (pluck or pull at with the fingers)

hike up; hitch up (pull up)

attract (exert a force on (a body) causing it to approach or prevent it from moving away)

gather (draw and bring closer)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

pull (the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you)

pull (the force used in pulling)

puller (someone who applies force so as to cause motion toward herself or himself)

pulling (the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

commit; perpetrate; pull

Context example:

pull a bank robbery

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

make (carry out or commit)

recommit (commit once again, as of a crime)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

pull (a sustained effort)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

draw; get out; pull; pull out; take out

Context example:

The mugger pulled a knife on his victim

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Verb group:

pull (take away)

draw out; extract; pull; pull out; pull up; rip out; take out; tear out (remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense)

draw; take out (take liquid out of a container or well)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

unsheathe (draw from a sheath or scabbard)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Steer into a certain direction

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

Pull the car over

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

drive (cause someone or something to move by driving)

Verb group:

pull (move into a certain direction)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Strain abnormally

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

overstretch; pull

Context example:

The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

pull (a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

draw; pull

Context example:

A declining dollar pulled down the export figures for the last quarter

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Verb group:

draw; pull (cause to move by pulling)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Operate when rowing a boat

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

pull the oars

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

row (propel with oars)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Rein in to keep from winning a race

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

pull a horse

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

rein; rein in (stop or check by or as if by a pull at the reins)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Tear or be torn violently

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

pull; rend; rip; rive

Context example:

pull the cooked chicken into strips

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

bust; rupture; snap; tear (separate or cause to separate abruptly)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 13

Meaning:

Hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

pull the ball

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

hit (cause to move by striking)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sentence frame:

It is ----ing

Sense 14

Meaning:

Strip of feathers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

deplumate; deplume; displume; pluck; pull; tear

Context example:

pluck the capon

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

strip (remove the surface from)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 15

Meaning:

Remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

draw out; extract; pull; pull out; pull up; rip out; take out; tear out

Context example:

extract information from the telegram

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Verb group:

draw; get out; pull; pull out; take out (bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pull"):

demodulate (extract information from a modulated carrier wave)

thread (remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string)

squeeze out; wring out (extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 16

Meaning:

Take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

pull; root for

Context example:

Are you siding with the defender of the title?

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

side (take sides for or against)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 17

Meaning:

Take away

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf

Hypernyms (to "pull" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Verb group:

draw; get out; pull; pull out; take out (bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Ah, we men and women are like ropes drawn tight with strain that pull us different ways.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mercury will be retrograde most of the month, until November 20, giving you a chance to pull back and review decisions and actions you have taken over the past year.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Joe nodded and pulled out a note-book.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I pulled off my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“It was a—it was a pull,” said Traddles, with his usual wince at that expression.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Seven days from the time they pulled into Dawson, they dropped down the steep bank by the Barracks to the Yukon Trail, and pulled for Dyea and Salt Water.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

The largest and most superficial muscle on the lateral side of the anterior abdomen which compresses the abdomen and pulls the chest downward.

(External Oblique Muscle, NCI Thesaurus)

This evaluation includes testing tension such as pull testing.

(Device Strength Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

This can be a result of tensile forces, compressive forces, shear, bending, tensile (pulling), or torsion.

(Device Deformation Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

Don’t be impatient, said Snow-white, I will help you, and she pulled her scissors out of her pocket, and cut off the end of the beard.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)