pull 1 of 2

verb

ˈpu̇l How to pronounce pull (audio)
Definition of pullnext
1
as in to haul
to cause to follow by applying steady force on a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon

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2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth

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3
as in to stretch
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

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pull

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards

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2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington

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3
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pull
Verb
The detective noted that Ramirez then appeared to get pulled under the vehicle, and then was lying motionless. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026 Rising air pulls powerful winds toward the fire, while downdrafts punch gusts back to the surface. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Noun
The fair again featured its usual lineup of events including 4-H exhibits and shows, a market and food vendors, a kids’ pedal pull and talent show and live music. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The nuclear-family model, once such a source of gravity, lost some of its pull. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
  1. haul
  2. yank
  3. stretch
  4. tug
  5. influence
  6. advantage
  7. drag
  8. extract
Verb
  • Like the first two LPs, it was produced by the band members themselves, who opted this time to haul their gear into their rehearsal space and record there to save money on studio fees.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Allen leaped off both feet, sent his right arm into the air and hauled it in — with one hand.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • But with the Supreme Court sanctioning a White House immigration crackdown, Nelson’s permission to stay in the country appears likely to be yanked within days, leaving French worried.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Karol then appeared to try deescalating the abrupt encounter, but she was yanked by the fan again before security escorted him from the stage.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • The military veteran is a longshot candidate for the district, which now stretches east from Kansas City to central Missouri.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • On Wednesday, authorities said three firefighters had died on the Greek island on Crete, as the wildfire emergency stretched from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of stretch
Noun
  • Mental overstimulation is likely today as the Sagittarius moon plays tug of war with Mars.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 25 July 2026
  • Instead of grabbing a handful of vines and giving them a hard tug, work slowly and loosen the soil around the ivy first.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 July 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • But as demonstrations attracted larger crowds, the government was forced to acknowledge them and respond to their growing influence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • For the Lower 48 states, this is an example of a potentially beneficial El Niño influence.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Those firms that subordinated customer value to residual claims frequently paid a price; those who reversed the order compounded advantage.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Trust, financing, developer communities, standards, commercial partnerships, and diplomatic credibility have become competitive advantages in their own right.
    — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Verb
  • Oil prices got back to jumping on Wednesday, while sinking technology stocks dragged Wall Street lower amid uncertainty about what the Federal Reserve will do to get high inflation under control.
    — Stan Choe, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • Iran war could drag on for months The US-Iran war will likely drag on for months, analysts predicted, as new strikes disrupted a tenuous pause and the conflict widened.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Asteroid mining is also mentioned as a potential opportunity, which would entail extracting metals and other critical resources from near-Earth and main-belt asteroids.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The company based in the Boston-area city of Woburn, Massachusetts, plans to build a bigger facility to extract and produce critical metals needed in not only defense but also the aerospace and automotive industries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of extract

Phrases Containing pull

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puling
pull
pull a face
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Cite this Entry

“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pull

Nglish: Translation of pull for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pull

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