pull

(noun, verb)

noun

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

- the pull up the hill had him breathing harder

- his strenuous pulling strained his back

Similar word(s): pulling

Definition categories: act, actuation, propulsion

2. the force used in pulling

- the pull of the moon

- the pull of the current

Definition categories: phenomenon, force

3. special advantage or influence

- the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull

Similar word(s): clout

Definition categories: attribute, advantage, vantage

4. a device used for pulling something

- he grabbed the pull and opened the drawer

Definition categories: man–made, device

5. a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments

- he was sidelined with a hamstring pull

Similar word(s): twist, wrench

Definition categories: state, harm, hurt, injury, trauma

6. a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke)

Similar word(s): drag, puff

Definition categories: act, aspiration, inhalation, inspiration, intake

7. a sustained effort

- it was a long pull but we made it

Definition categories: act, effort, exertion, sweat, travail

Sentences with pull as a noun:

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

- The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant.

- iron fillings drawn by the pull of a magnet

- She took a pull on her cigarette.

- a zipper pull

- In weights the favourite had the pull.

verb

1. cause to move by pulling

- pull a sled

Similar word(s): draw

Definition categories: contact, displace, move

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

- The ad pulled in many potential customers

- This pianist pulls huge crowds

Similar word(s): attract, draw

Definition categories: contact, draw, pull

3. move into a certain direction

- the car pulls to the right

Definition categories: motion, drive

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

- Pull the rope

- Pull the handle towards you

- pull the string gently

Definition categories: contact, force

5. perform an act, usually with a negative connotation

- pull a bank robbery

Similar word(s): commit, perpetrate

Definition categories: social, act, move

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

- pull out a gun

- The mugger pulled a knife on his victim

Similar word(s): draw

Definition categories: motion, remove, take, withdraw

7. steer into a certain direction

- pull one's horse to a stand

- Pull the car over

Definition categories: motion, drive

8. strain abnormally

- I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up

- The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition

Similar word(s): overstretch

Definition categories: body, injure, wound

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

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

Similar word(s): draw

Definition categories: motion, displace, move

10. operate when rowing a boat

- pull the oars

Definition categories: motion, row

11. rein in to keep from winning a race

- pull a horse

Definition categories: motion, rein

12. tear or be torn violently

- pull the cooked chicken into strips

Similar word(s): rend, rip, rive

Definition categories: contact, bust, rupture, snap, tear

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

- pull the ball

Definition categories: contact, hit

14. strip of feathers

- pull a chicken

Similar word(s): deplumate, deplume, displume, pluck, tear

Definition categories: contact, strip

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

- pull weeds

Similar word(s): extract

Definition categories: contact, remove, take, withdraw

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

- I'm pulling for the underdog

Definition categories: competition, side

17. take away

- pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf

Definition categories: change, remove, take, withdraw

Sentences with pull as a verb:

- When I give the signal, pull the rope.

- You're going to have to pull harder to get that cork out of the bottle.

- to pull fruit from a tree; to pull flax; to pull a finch

- I pulled at the club last night.

- He's pulled that bird over there.

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

- He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14.

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

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

- The favourite was pulled.

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