pull

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the…

   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.
   • Pull your belt tight before starting off, will you?
   • He put forth his hand […] and pulled her in.
2. 2

   To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself

   To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.).

   • to pull fruit from a tree
   • pull flax
   • pull a finch
3. 3

   To attract or net

   To attract or net; to pull in.

   • Television, a favored source of news and information, pulls the largest share of advertising monies.
   • 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.
4. ›+ 46 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To persuade (someone) to have sex with one.

      • I pulled at the club last night.
      • He's pulled that bird over there.
      • Grab your coat, love, you've pulled.
   2. 5

      To interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex).

      • Wow, Joyce pulls, actually.
   3. 6

      To remove or withdraw (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.
   4. 7

      To retrieve or look up 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?
      • They'll go through their computer system and pull a report of all your order fulfillment records for the time period you specify.
   5. 8

      To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.

      • It's the contractor's responsibility to pull the necessary permits before starting work.
   6. 9

      To do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker.

      • He regularly pulls 12-hour days, sometimes 14.
      • You'll be sent home if you pull another stunt like that.
      • What are you trying to pull?
   7. 10

      To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour associated with the person or thing mentioned…

      To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour associated with the person or thing mentioned (with a and the name of a person, place, event, etc.).

      • He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.
      • They're trying to pull a Watergate on us.
   8. 11

      To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.

   9. 12

      To row.

      • It had been a sort of race hitherto, and the rowers, with set teeth and compressed lips, had pulled stroke for stroke.
   10. 13

       To transport by rowing.

       • As the man at the oars pulled him across, the scientist said to him, "Do you know astronomy?"
   11. 14

       To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.

       • I pulled a personal best on the erg yesterday.
   12. 15

       To draw apart

       To draw apart; to tear; to rend.

       • He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.
   13. 16

       To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).

   14. 17

       To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some…

       To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.

       • …we had to clear a long hallway, run up half way, pull the boss mob to us, and engage.
       • 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.
       • This is the only thing that should get you to break off from your position, is to pull something off the healer.
   15. 18

       To score a certain number of points in a sport.

       • How many points did you pull today, Albert?
   16. 19

       To hold back, and so prevent from winning.

       • The favourite was pulled.
   17. 20

       To take or make (a proof or impression)

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

   18. 21

       To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)

       • Never pull a straight fast ball to leg.
   19. 22

       To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.

       • Let's stop at Finnigan's. The barman pulls a good pint.
   20. 23

       To take a swig or mouthful of drink.

       • Danny pulled at his beer and thought for a moment.
   21. 24

       Of a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station

       Of a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station; to leave.

   22. 25

       (Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or…

       (Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or to a particular place.

       • Pull around to the window please.
       • He pulled the car forward until he was out of the way.
   23. 26

       To pull over (a driver or vehicle)

       To pull over (a driver or vehicle); to detain for a traffic stop.

       • The state trooper pulled me for going 60 in a 55 zone.
   24. 27

       To repeatedly stretch taffy in order to achieve the desired stretchy texture.

   25. 28

       To retrieve source code or other material from a source control repository.

   26. 29

       In practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid…

       In practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid injuring one's practice partner.

   27. 30

       To impede the progress of (a horse) to prevent its winning a race.

       • 'I never liked Bowler, and I had my suspicions when Captain Ferndale persuaded you to put him up in that race. I did not discover until some time after that he pulled the horse.'
   28. 31

       Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched.

   29. 32

       An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself).

       • He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out.
       • She took several pulls on her cigarette.
       • I found myself suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box.
   30. 33

       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
   31. 34

       An advantage over somebody

       An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing.

       • The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients.
       • Tresham's up to his eyes in dock business and town business, a regular jobmonger, he has no use for anybody who hasn't a pull.
   32. 35

       The power to influence someone or something

       The power to influence someone or something; sway, clout.

       • I don't have a lot of pull within the company.
       • She wants to work in the villages, and she has a lot of pull with some ministers and there she is, like a political supervisor.
       • I have already put Matthew Williams off for a few days. He wants to see her too, but he doesn't have pull with the director.
   33. 36

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

       • a zipper pull
   34. 37

       A randomized selection from a given set.

       • card pull
   35. 38

       Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest

       Something in one's favour in a comparison or a contest; advantage.

       • In weights the favourite had the pull.
   36. 39

       Appeal or attraction.

       • the pull of a movie star
   37. 40

       The act or process of sending out a request for data from a server by a client.

       • server pull
       • pull technology
   38. 41

       A journey made by rowing.

   39. 42

       A contest

       A contest; a struggle.

       • a wrestling pull
       • this wrastling pull betweene Corineus and Gogmagog, is reported to have befallen at Douer.
   40. 43

       An injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.

       An injury resulting from a forceful pull on a limb, etc.; strain; sprain.

       • They used steroids to build strength but, more importantly, to recover from strains, pulls, dislocations.
   41. 44

       Loss, misfortune, or violence suffered.

       • Two pulls at once; / His lady banished, and a limb lopped off.
   42. 45

       A drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage

       A drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage; a mouthful or swig of a drink.

       • Heah, Sam Johnsing, jis' take a pull at dis bottle, an' it will make yo' feel better.
       • However, both gentlemen were clearly of one mind over the quality of the wine, for they each took a prolonged pull, smacked their lips, and looked hard at each other, as though in silent communion over the excellence of the vintage.
       • 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.'
   43. 46

       A type of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the on…

       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.

       • The pull is not a legitimate stroke, but bad cricket.
   44. 47

       A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of…

       A mishit shot which travels in a straight line and (for a right-handed player) left of the intended path.

   45. 48

       A single impression from a handpress.

       • "Tell George to come down and bring pulls of his latest plates," confirmed Joolby.
   46. 49

       A proof sheet.

The neighborhood

• synonymattract
• synonymdraw
• synonymhale
• synonymheave
• synonymlug
• synonympull
• synonymschlep
• antonympushantonym(s) of “apply force to (something) so it comes towards one”
• antonymrepelantonym(s) of “apply force to (something) so it comes towards one”
• antonymshoveantonym(s) of “apply force to (something) so it comes towards one”
• antonymeject
• antonymleave
• antonymrest
• antonymthrow
• antonymrepulsionantonym(s) of “attractive force”
• antonymbuttonantonym(s) of “device meant to be pulled”
• antonympush-buttonantonym(s) of “device meant to be pulled”
• neighborcarry
• neighborextract
• neighborlift
• neighborlurch
• neighbormove
• neighbortransport
• neighbordrag
• neighborhaul
• neighborpick
• neighborpluck
• neighbortow
• neighbortrail