pull

English

Etymology

Verb from Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian (“to pull, draw, tug, pluck off”). 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”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: po͝ol, IPA^(key): /pʊl/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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• Hyphenation: pull
• Rhymes: -ʊl

Verb

pull (third-person singular simple present pulls, present participle pulling, simple past and past participle pulled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.

   When I give the signal, pull the rope.

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

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Genesis 8:9:

     He put forth his hand […] and pulled her in.

   • c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene iii]:

     Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows.

   • Force definition

     Strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect. (1 of 14 force definitions)

   • Toward definition

     In the direction of. (1 of 4 toward definitions)
2. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck.

   to pull fruit from a tree

   pull flax

   pull a finch

   • Pluck definition

     To pull something sharply; to pull something out (1 of 9 pluck definitions)
3. (transitive) To attract or net; to pull in.
   • 2002, Marcella Ridlen Ray, Changing and Unchanging Face of United States Civil Society

     Television, a favored source of news and information, pulls the largest share of advertising monies.

   • 2011, Russell Simmons, ‎Chris Morrow, Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All

     While the pimp can always pull a ho with his magnetism, he can never pull a nun. The nun is too in touch with her own compassionate and honest spirit to react to a spirit as negative and deceitful as that of the pimp.

   • Attract definition

     To pull toward without touching. (1 of 3 attract definitions)

   • Net definition

     A mesh of string, cord or rope. (1 of 11 net definitions)

   • Pull In definition

     To pull something, so that it comes inside. (1 of 6 pull in definitions)
4. (transitive, intransitive, UK, Ireland, slang) To persuade (someone) to have sex with one.

   I pulled at the club last night.

   He's pulled that bird over there.

   • Transitive definition

     Making a transit or passage. (1 of 6 transitive definitions)

   • Intransitive definition

     Not transitive: not having, or not taking, a direct object. (1 of 2 intransitive definitions)

   • Have Sex definition

     To engage in sexual intercourse. (1 of 2 have sex definitions)
5. (transitive) To remove (something), especially from public circulation or availability.

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

   The book was due to be released today, but it was pulled at the last minute over legal concerns.

   • Remove definition

     To delete. (1 of 9 remove definitions)

   • Circulation definition

     (1 of 8 circulation definitions)

   • Availability definition

     The quality of being available. (1 of 3 availability definitions)
6. (transitive) To retrieve or generate for use.

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

   This computer file is incorrect. Can we pull the old version from your backups?

   • 2006, Michael Bellomo, Joel Elad, How to Sell Anything on Amazon...and Make a Fortune!

     They'll go through their computer system and pull a report of all your order fulfillment records for the time period you specify.

   • Retrieve definition

     To regain or get back something. (1 of 11 retrieve definitions)

   • Generate definition

     To bring into being; give rise to. (1 of 5 generate definitions)
7. (construction) To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.

   It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work.

   • Construction definition

     The process of constructing. (1 of 10 construction definitions)
8. (transitive, informal) To do or perform.

   He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14.

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

   • Do definition

     A syntactic marker.

     1. A syntactic marker in a question whose main verb is not another auxiliary verb or be. (1 of 35 do definitions)

   • Perform definition

     To do (something); to execute. (1 of 10 perform definitions)
10. (with 'a' and the name of a person, place, event, etc.) To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour that is associated with the person or thing mentioned.

    He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.

    They're trying to pull a Watergate on us.

    • Copy definition

      The result of copying; an identical duplicate of an original. (1 of 13 copy definitions)

    • Emulate definition

      To attempt to equal or be the same as. (1 of 4 emulate definitions)

    • Behaviour definition

      Alternative spelling of behavior
11. To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.

    • Toss definition

      A throw, a lob, of a ball etc., with an initial upward direction, particularly with a lack of care. (1 of 6 toss definitions)

    • Frisbee definition

      Alternative form of Frisbee (1 of 2 frisbee definitions)

    • Intention definition

      A course of action that a person intends to follow. (1 of 7 intention definitions)

    • Launch definition

      To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force. (1 of 10 launch definitions)
12. (intransitive) To row.
    • 1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life Chapter VI

    • Row definition

      A line of objects, often regularly spaced, such as seats in a theatre, vegetable plants in a garden etc. (1 of 2 row definitions)
13. (transitive, rowing) To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.

    I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday.

    It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke.

    • Rowing definition

      present participle of row (“propel with oars”)

    • Rowing Machine definition

      An exercise machine whose action resembles that of rowing a boat.
14. To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Lamentations 3:11:

      He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.

    • 2009, Ardie A. Davis, ‎Chef Paul Kirk, America's Best BBQ (page 57)

      If you are going to pull or chop the pork butt, take it out of the smoker when the meat is in the higher temperature range, put it in a large pan, and let it rest, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Using heavy-duty dinner forks, pull the pork butt to shreds.

    • Draw definition

      To move or develop something.

      1. To sketch; depict with lines; to produce a picture with pencil, crayon, chalk, etc. on paper, cardboard, etc.
      2. To deduce or infer. (1 of 48 draw definitions)

    • Apart definition

      Placed separately (in regard to space or time). (1 of 4 apart definitions)

    • Tear definition

      (1 of 11 tear definitions)

    • Rend definition

      To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to split; to burst (1 of 3 rend definitions)
15. (transitive) To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).

    • Strain definition

      Race; lineage, pedigree. (1 of 8 strain definitions)

    • Muscle definition

      A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement. (1 of 5 muscle definitions)

    • Tendon definition

      A tough band of flexible but inelastic fibrous collagen tissue that connects a muscle with its bony attachment and transmits the force which the muscle exerts. (1 of 3 tendon definitions)

    • Ligament definition

      A band of strong tissue that connects bones to other bones. (1 of 2 ligament definitions)
16. (video games, transitive, intransitive) To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.
    • 2003 April 9, "Richard Lawson" (username), "Monual's Willful Ignorance", in alt.games.everquest, Usenet:

      …we had to clear a long hallway, run up half way, pull the boss mob to us, and engage.

    • 2004 October 18, "Stush" (username), "Re: focus pull", in alt.games.dark-age-of-camelot, Usenet:

      Basically buff pet, have it pull lots of mobs, shield pet, chain heal pet, have your aoe casters finish off hurt mobs once pet gets good aggro.

    • 2005 August 2, "Brian" (username), "Re: How to tank Stratholme undead pulls?", in alt.games.warcraft, Usenet:

      This is the only thing that should get you to break off from your position, is to pull something off the healer.

    • 2007 April 10, "John Salerno" (username), "Re: Managing the Command Buttons", in alt.games.warcraft, Usenet:

      You could also set a fire trap, pull the mob toward it, then send in your pet….

    • 2008 August 18, "Mark (newsgroups)" (username), "Re: I'm a priest now!", in alt.games.warcraft, Usenet:

      Shield yourself, pull with Mind Blast if you want, or merely pull with SW:P to save mana, then wand, fear if you need to, but use the lowest rank fear.

    • Video Game definition

      A type of game, existing as and controlled by software, usually run by a video game console or a computer, played on a video terminal or television screen, and controlled by a paddle, joystick, joypad, mouse, or keyboard.

    • Non-Player Character definition

      A character in a role-playing game or computer game whose actions are not controlled by a player. (1 of 2 non-player character definitions)
17. (UK) To score a certain number of points in a sport.

    How many points did you pull today, Albert?

    • Score definition

      (1 of 22 score definitions)
18. (horse-racing) To hold back, and so prevent from winning.

    The favourite was pulled.

19. (printing, dated) To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.

    • Printing definition

      The process or business of producing printed material by means of inked type and a printing press or similar technology. (1 of 4 printing definitions)

    • Proof definition

      An effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial. (1 of 11 proof definitions)

    • Impression definition

      The indentation or depression made by the pressure of one object on or into another. (1 of 9 impression definitions)
20. (cricket, golf) To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)
    • 1888, Robert Henry Lyttelton, Cricket Chapter 2

      Never pull a straight fast ball to leg.

    • Cricket definition

      (1 of 5 cricket definitions)

    • Golf definition

      A ball game played by individuals competing against one another in which the object is to hit a ball into each of a series of (usually 18 or nine) holes in the minimum number of strokes. (1 of 2 golf definitions)
21. (UK) To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.

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

22. (intransitive) To take a swig or mouthful of drink.
    • 1957, Air Force Magazine (volume 40, page 128)

      Danny pulled at his beer and thought for a moment.

    • Swig definition

      To drink ; to quaff. (1 of 3 swig definitions)

    • Mouthful definition

      The amount that will fit in a mouth. (1 of 4 mouthful definitions)

    • Drink definition

      To consume (a liquid) through the mouth. (1 of 6 drink definitions)
23. (rail transportation, US, of a railroad car) To pull out from a yard or station; to leave.

    • Pull Out definition

      Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pull,‎ out. (1 of 7 pull out definitions)

    • Yard definition

      A small, usually uncultivated area adjoining or (now especially) within the precincts of a house or other building. (1 of 5 yard definitions)

    • Station definition

      A stopping place.

      1. A regular stopping place for ground transportation. (1 of 25 station definitions)

    • Leave definition

      To have a consequence or remnant.

      1. To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely. (1 of 15 leave definitions)
24. (now chiefly Scotland, England and US regional) To pluck or pick (flowers, fruit etc.).
    • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 19, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], published 1781, OCLC 316121541:

      He and some of his companions one day entered a garden in the suburbs, and having indulged their appetites, desired to know what satisfaction they must make for the fruit they had pulled.

    • Pick definition

      A tool used for digging; a pickaxe. (1 of 18 pick definitions)

Synonyms

• (apply force to (something) so it comes toward): drag, tow, tug, yank
• (slang: to persuade to have sex with one): score
• (to remove from circulation): recall, withdraw, yank
• (to do, to perform): carry out, complete, do, execute, perform
• (to retrieve or generate for use): generate, get, get hold of, get one's hands on, lay one's hands on, obtain, retrieve
• (to succeed in finding a person with whom to have sex.): score

Antonyms

• (apply force to (something) so it comes towards one): push, repel, shove

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

See also pulling

Translations

Interjection

pull

1. (sports) Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.

   • Sports definition

     plural of sport

Noun

pull (countable and uncountable, plural pulls)

1. An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself)

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

   • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], chapter 1, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], OCLC 995220039, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput):

     I found myself suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box.

   • Pulling definition

     present participle of pull
2. An attractive force which causes motion towards the source

   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.

   • Attractive definition

     Causing attraction; having the quality of attracting by inherent force. (1 of 3 attractive definitions)

   • Motion definition

     A state of progression from one place to another. (1 of 12 motion definitions)
3. (figuratively, by extension) An advantage over somebody; means of influencing.

   The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients.

4. Any device meant to be pulled, as a lever, knob, handle, or rope

   a zipper pull

   • Lever definition

     A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.

     1. Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

     (1 of 6 lever definitions)

   • Knob definition

     A rounded protuberance, especially one arising from a flat surface; a fleshy lump or caruncle. (1 of 14 knob definitions)

   • Handle definition

     The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved. (1 of 12 handle definitions)

   • Rope definition

     Thick strings, yarn, monofilaments, metal wires, or strands of other cordage that are twisted together to form a stronger line. (1 of 16 rope definitions)
5. (slang, dated) Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest.

   In weights the favourite had the pull.

6. Appeal or attraction (e.g. of a movie star)

   • Appeal definition

     1. An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
     2. The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued.
     3. A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review. (1 of 14 appeal definitions)

   • Attraction definition

     The tendency to attract. (1 of 5 attraction definitions)
7. (Internet, uncountable) The situation where a client sends out a request for data from a server, as in server pull, pull technology

   • Internet definition

     The specific internet consisting of a global network of computers that communicate using Internet Protocol (IP) and that use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to identify the best paths to route those communications.

   • Client definition

     A customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services. (1 of 5 client definitions)

   • Server definition

     A program that provides services to other programs or devices, either in the same computer or over a computer network. (1 of 8 server definitions)
8. A journey made by rowing
   • 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.

9. (dated) A contest; a struggle.

   a wrestling pull

   • 1602, Richard Carew, Survey of Cornwall:

     this wrastling pull betweene Corineus and Gogmagog, is reported to have befallen at Douer.

   • Contest definition

     Controversy; debate. (1 of 3 contest definitions)

   • Struggle definition

     A contortion of the body in an attempt to escape or to perform a difficult task. (1 of 2 struggle definitions)
10. (obsolete, poetic) Loss or violence suffered.
    • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iii]:

      Two pulls at once; / His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.

    • Poetic definition

      Relating to poetry. (1 of 3 poetic definitions)
11. (colloquial) The act of drinking; a mouthful or swig of a drink.
    • 1882, H. Elliott McBride, Well Fixed for a Rainy Day:

      Heah , Sam Johnsing , jis' take a pull at dis bottle, an' it will make yo' feel better .

    • 1996, Jon Byrell, Lairs, Urgers and Coat-Tuggers, Sydney: Ironbark, page 294:

      Sutho took a pull at his Johnny Walker and Coke and laughed that trademark laugh of his and said: `Okay. I'll pay that all right.'

12. (cricket) 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.
    • 1887, R. A. Proctor, Longman's Magazine

      The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket.

    • Pull Shot definition

      A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on side.
13. (golf) A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path.
14. (printing, historical) A single impression from a handpress.

    • Handpress definition

      An early printing press operated by means of a handle that applied pressure on the form.
15. (printing) A proof sheet.

    • Proof Sheet definition

      A page of proofed text; a sheet used to make corrections, emendations etc. before being printed for use. (1 of 2 proof sheet definitions)

Synonyms

• (act of pulling): tug, yank
• (attractive force): attraction
• (device meant to be pulled): handle, knob, lever, rope
• (influence): influence, sway
• (a puff on a cigarette): drag, toke (marijuana cigarette)

Antonyms

• (act of pulling): push, shove
• (attractive force): repulsion
• (device meant to be pulled): button, push, push-button
• (influence):

Derived terms

• beer pull
• pulldown, pull-down
• pullout
• pull request
• ring-pull
• rug-pull
• slab pull

Related terms

• on the pull
• pull cord
• ring-pull, ring pull

Translations

Estonian

Etymology

From Low German bulle.

Noun

pull (genitive pulli, partitive pulli)

1. bull

   • Bull definition

     An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen.

     1. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.

     (1 of 17 bull definitions)
2. ox

   • Ox definition

     An adult castrated male of cattle (B. taurus), especially when used as a beast of burden. (1 of 2 ox definitions)

Declension

French

Etymology

Clipping of pull-over, from English pullover.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pyl/, /pul/

• audio

  (file)

Noun

pull m (plural pulls)

1. pullover

   Il fait froid; je vais mettre mon pull.

   It's cold; I'm going to put on my pullover.

   • Pullover definition

     A sweater that must be put on by pulling it over the head; a sweater without buttons or a zipper in front (1 of 4 pullover definitions)

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English pull.

Noun

pull m (plural pulls)

1. (ultimate frisbee) pull

   • Pull definition

     To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force. (1 of 24 pull definitions)