pull
Third Person
pulls
Present Participle
pulling
Past Tense
pulled
Past Participle
pulled
1
to use your hands to move something or someone toward yourself or in the direction that your hands are moving
transitive
- She pulled her suitcase behind her as she walked through the airport.
- She pulled the door handle to open the entrance.
- They worked together to pull the heavy box off the shelf.
- We should pull the curtains to let in more sunlight.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
2
to attract interest or gain favor
transitive
- The new advertising campaign was designed to pull the attention of a younger demographic.
- The talented young artist managed to pull the interest of art critics and collectors.
- The product launch aimed to pull the support of environmentally conscious consumers.
- The musician's performance managed to pull the admiration of both music enthusiasts and casual listeners.
- The community project aimed to pull the involvement of residents by emphasizing its positive impact.
Antonyms:
3
to remove something from the surface of the skin, such as hair, feathers, or splinters
transitive
- She carefully pulled the splinter from her finger using a pair of tweezers.
- The esthetician skillfully pulled unwanted hair during the waxing session
- Using a pair of pliers, she carefully pulled the bee stinger from her hand.
- As part of the grooming routine, she would carefully pull stray eyebrow hairs to maintain a neat appearance.
4
to be drawn or moved by the application of force, especially through mechanical energy
- The heavy door pulled slowly on its hinges as the wind pushed against it.
- The athlete's powerful kick caused the ball to pull towards the goalpost.
- The rocket engines ignited, and the spacecraft started to pull away from the Earth's atmosphere.
- As the car accelerated, it began to pull smoothly down the highway.
- The magnetic field caused the metal object to pull toward the magnet with a noticeable force.
5
to draw or reveal a weapon
transitive
- As the tension escalated, he decided to pull his concealed handgun from its holster.
- The police officer warned the suspect to comply, or he would be forced to pull his service weapon.
- Realizing the severity of the situation, the security guard quickly pulled his baton.
- The bodyguard discreetly pulled a compact stun gun from his pocket, keeping it ready for any unexpected threats.
- Faced with a potential break-in, the homeowner chose to pull his shotgun from its secured location.
6
to successfully execute a plan or scheme, especially when it involves cunning or manipulation
transitive
- The con artist pulled a scam that fooled even the most vigilant investors.
- John managed to pull a convincing impersonation and gained access to the restricted area.
- The spy skillfully pulled a switcheroo, swapping the classified documents with convincing replicas.
- The con artist successfully pulled a double-cross on his partners, leaving them with empty hands.
- Despite tight security, the master thief pulled a heist on the heavily guarded museum.
Synonyms:
7
to remove something from circulation or public access
transitive
- The newspaper decided to pull the controversial article from its online edition.
- The software company had to pull the faulty update.
- In response to complaints, the streaming service chose to pull the offensive comedy special.
- Facing criticism for biased reporting, the news organization decided to pull the journalist's articles.
- The publisher made the difficult decision to pull the controversial novel, citing potential legal issues.
8
to tear or separate objects or materials forcefully
transitive
- She accidentally pulled the pages of the old book when trying to turn them.
- The fabric was delicate, and any attempt to pull it resulted in small tears along the seams.
- She accidentally caught her dress on a nail and pulled it, tearing the delicate fabric.
- The mischievous cat leaped onto the table and pulled the tablecloth, causing dishes to crash.
- She hastily pulled the stubborn tape, unaware that it would cause the cardboard to tear.
9
to draw or tug something in order to detach or remove
transitive
- The mechanic pulled the damaged part from the engine for closer inspection.
- As the fisherman reeled in his line, he hoped to pull a big catch from the water.
- The dentist needed to pull a decayed tooth to prevent further complications.
- During the archaeological excavation, they carefully pulled artifacts from the ancient site.
10
to deliberately slow down or restraining a horse to make it lose a race
transitive
- In a surprising move, the jockey decided to pull the horse just before the final stretch.
- The trainer instructed the jockey to subtly pull the horse to avoid winning the preliminary race.
- Facing tough competition, the jockey made the controversial decision to pull the horse.
- The seasoned jockey knew when to pull the horse and when to let it run.
11
to damage a muscle or its attaching tendons, particularly during a workout session or any vigorous activity
transitive
- During the marathon, the runner pulled a muscle in his calf, slowing down his pace.
- Attempting to lift too much weight, the weightlifter ended up pulling his lower back muscles.
- The gymnast performed a challenging routine and unfortunately pulled a muscle in her shoulder.
- In the intense workout session, the athlete pushed too hard and pulled a muscle in his thigh.
- The fitness enthusiast didn't warm up properly and ended up pulling a muscle during a squat.
12
to successfully attract, flirt with, or hook up with someone
- He managed to pull at the club even though he barely tried.
- She pulled last night and hasn't stopped smiling since.
- Do you really think you can pull with that cheesy pickup line?
- They pulled at the party and ended up leaving together.
- I haven't pulled in months; maybe I'm losing my touch.