pull at

verb

pulled at; pulling at; pulls at
1
: to hold onto and pull (something) repeatedly
When she gets nervous, she pulls at her ear.
2
: to breathe in the smoke from (a cigarette, pipe, etc.)
He rocked back and forth, pulling at his pipe.

Examples of pull at in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
May 21 – June 20 Public expectations and private needs may pull at each other. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 Gemini May 21 – June 20 Public expectations and private needs may pull at each other. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2026 The man hugged a bag, the woman shouted and flailed her arms, and the young teenage boy pulled at his sister, who seemed stupefied. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 Every documentary filmmaker or journalist or investigator learns how to pull at that thread. — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pull at

Rhymes for pull at

See All Rhymes for pull at

Browse Nearby Words

pull a stunt
pull at
pull a vanishing act
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pull at.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20at. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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