Pull Definition & Meaning

pull
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"
  2. the force used in pulling; "the pull of the moon"; "the pull of the current"
  3. special advantage or influence; "the chairman's nephew has a lot of pull"
  4. a device used for pulling something; "he grabbed the pull and opened the drawer"
  5. a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a hamstring pull"
  6. a slow inhalation (as of tobacco smoke); "he took a puff on his pipe"; "he took a drag on his cigarette and expelled the smoke slowly"
  7. a sustained effort; "it was a long pull but we made it"
verb
  1. cause to move by pulling; "draw a wagon"; "pull a sled"
  2. direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes; "Her good looks attract the stares of many men"; "The ad pulled in many potential customers"; "This pianist pulls huge crowds"; "The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers"
  3. move into a certain direction; "the car pulls to the right"
  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"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin"
  5. perform an act, usually with a negative connotation; "perpetrate a crime"; "pull a bank robbery"
  6. bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover; "draw a weapon"; "pull out a gun"; "The mugger pulled a knife on his victim"
  7. steer into a certain direction; "pull one's horse to a stand"; "Pull the car over"
  8. strain abnormally; "I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up"; "The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition"
  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"
  10. operate when rowing a boat; "pull the oars"
  11. rein in to keep from winning a race; "pull a horse"
  12. tear or be torn violently; "The curtain ripped from top to bottom"; "pull the cooked chicken into strips"
  13. hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing; "pull the ball"
  14. strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon"
  15. remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense; "pull weeds"; "extract a bad tooth"; "take out a splinter"; "extract information from the telegram"
  16. take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for; "We all rooted for the home team"; "I'm pulling for the underdog"; "Are you siding with the defender of the title?"
  17. take away; "pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf"

"Pull" in song lyrics

See how pull is used in real songs:

  • "I'm Sitting Bull with a peace pipe, wanna pull?"
    60 Second Assassin f/ 12 O'Clock, Chi-King, Timbo King — Clockz N' Kingz
  • "Peace, the whipper-snapper generation greet 'em with a full blown pistol pull"
    Aesop Rock — Food, Clothes, Medicine
  • "sunk with a barrel full of ?? pull"
    Aesop Rock — The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3

Usage tips for "pull"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "pull" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for pull to find words that pair well.

Use "pull" in a verse

Now that you know what "pull" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

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