Verb / Noun A2–C1 /pʊl/

Pull — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

To move something towards you — or the invisible force that draws you in.

Quick Definition

To pull is to move something towards you by applying force, to remove something from a fixed position, or to use influence to achieve an outcome. As a noun, pull refers to the act of pulling or an attractive force that draws you towards something.

What Does Pull Mean?

Pull comes from Old English pullian, meaning to pluck or snatch, related to Middle Low German pulen (to shell or strip). It has been used in English since at least the 10th century. The figurative sense of exerting influence developed in the 19th century — as in having pull with someone in a position of power.

In its most basic, physical sense, pull is the opposite of push: you pull a door open towards you and push it shut away from you. Beyond the physical, the word carries a rich range of meanings. You can pull a muscle (injure it by stretching), pull strings (use hidden influence), or feel the emotional pull of a place you once called home. This breadth makes pull one of the most flexible and frequently used verbs in everyday British English.

As a noun, pull describes a single act of pulling ("give the rope one sharp pull"), a natural or gravitational force ("the pull of the moon on the tides"), or informal social influence ("she has considerable pull in publishing circles"). Understanding both the verb and noun uses — and the many phrasal verbs built around pull — is essential for B2 and above.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevel & Usage note
He pulled the door open and walked in. A2 basic physical action
She pulled her coat on quickly because it was cold outside. B1 pull + clothing = put on by pulling
The team managed to pull together and finish the project on time. B1 phrasal verb: pull together = cooperate
Despite the setbacks, she pulled through and recovered fully within six weeks. B2 phrasal verb: pull through = survive difficulty
She felt the pull of wanting to translate every word instead of reading for meaning. C1 pull as abstract noun — psychological attraction

Collocations

CollocationMeaning / Example
pull a muscleinjure a muscle by overstretching — He pulled a muscle during training.
pull stringsuse personal influence to get something done — She pulled strings to get him an interview.
pull offsucceed at something difficult — They pulled off an unexpected victory.
pull outwithdraw from something — The investor pulled out at the last minute.
pull throughrecover from illness or difficulty — The doctors said he would pull through.
pull togethercooperate as a team — We need to pull together to meet the deadline.
pull overmove to the side of the road and stop — The officer asked the driver to pull over.
pull apartseparate by force or criticise in detail — The reviewer pulled the argument apart.
gravitational pullthe force of gravity attracting objects — the gravitational pull of the Earth
pull no punchesspeak very directly without softening criticism — Her feedback pulled no punches.

Usage Notes

Verb or Noun?

Pull functions as both a verb and a noun without any change in spelling. As a verb it describes the action directly: "Pull the handle." As a noun it names the act or force: "Give it a pull" or "the pull of nostalgia."

Pull vs. draw: Both can mean to attract, but draw is more formal and often used for slower, steadier attraction ("the city drew thousands of visitors"), while pull implies a stronger, sometimes more sudden force ("the smell pulled her towards the kitchen").

Pull vs. tug: A tug is a short, sharp pull, often repeated. Pull can be sustained. You tug a child's sleeve to get their attention; you pull a rope in a tug-of-war competition.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She pulled the door and it opened. (ambiguous — pushed or pulled?)

She pulled the door open. (pull + adjective complement makes the result explicit)

He pulled off the rope from the wall.

He pulled the rope off the wall. (with separable phrasal verbs, the noun object goes between verb and particle)

I have a pull muscle from yesterday's run.

I pulled a muscle on yesterday's run. / I have a pulled muscle. (use past tense verb or past participle as adjective)

Related Words

push draw attract force move take carry puller pullback pull-up

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “pull”

What does pull mean in English?
Pull means to move something towards you by applying force, or to remove something from a position. As a noun it means the act of pulling or an attractive force. For example: 'She felt the pull of the city after years in the countryside.' It contrasts with push, which means to move something away from you.
What is the difference between pull and push?
Pull means to move something towards yourself or in the direction you are moving. Push means to move something away from yourself. A door that says 'pull' opens towards you; one that says 'push' opens away from you. In marketing, a pull strategy attracts customers to a product, while a push strategy promotes it outward to distributors.
How do you use pull as a noun?
As a noun, pull describes the act of pulling ('give it a pull'), a force of attraction ('the gravitational pull of the moon'), or informal influence ('he has a lot of pull in the industry'). You can say 'at the pull of a lever' or 'she felt the emotional pull of returning home'.
What are common phrasal verbs with pull?
Common phrasal verbs include: pull off (succeed at something difficult), pull out (withdraw), pull up (stop or reprimand), pull through (recover from illness), pull together (work as a team), pull apart (separate by force), pull in (attract or arrive), and pull over (move to the side of the road). Each has a distinct meaning, so it is worth learning them individually.
What does pull your leg mean?
'To pull someone's leg' is a British English idiom meaning to tease or joke with someone. For example: 'Are you serious, or are you pulling my leg?' It does not involve any physical action — it simply means you are not being truthful in a playful way.
Can pull be used in a formal context?
Yes. In formal writing you might use pull to describe physical forces ('gravitational pull'), market forces ('consumer pull'), or strategic decisions ('the company pulled its investment'). However, informal phrases like 'pull strings' or 'pull off a deal' are better avoided in very formal academic writing — use 'exert influence' or 'secure' instead.
What is the past tense of pull?
Pull is a regular verb. The past simple and past participle are both pulled. For example: 'She pulled the door open.' (past simple) and 'The tooth has been pulled.' (past participle in passive). There are no irregular forms.
What is the noun form of pull?
Pull itself is used as a noun: 'Give the rope a pull.' There is no separate noun derived from it. Related nouns include puller (a person or device that pulls) and pullback (a withdrawal or reduction). The verb pull is far more frequent than the noun in everyday English.
What is the origin of the word pull?
Pull comes from Old English 'pullian', meaning to pluck or snatch, related to Middle Low German 'pulen' (to shell or strip). It has been used in English since at least the 10th century. The figurative sense of 'influence' developed in the 19th century, as in 'having pull' with someone in authority.
How can I practise using pull in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise pull and its phrasal verbs in context. The Flash Cards tool lets you test pull alongside related vocabulary such as push, attract, and draw. For phrasal verbs, focus on pull off, pull through, and pull out, as these appear frequently in B2–C1 examinations.