Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Pull Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💪
Add to dictionary

pull

[pÊŠl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

action

To exert force in order to move something towards oneself or the origin of the force.

Synonyms

drag, haul, tug.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
pull

Used for most situations where you want to bring something closer to you with a gentle or firm but controlled movement.

  • She pulled the door open
  • He pulled his friend out of the water
drag

Used when you want to describe moving something heavy or difficult to move, often with effort and usually across a surface. It can have a slightly negative connotation.

  • She had to drag the suitcase up the stairs
  • He dragged the heavy table across the room
haul

Used when you want to emphasize the difficulty in moving something heavy or large over a distance. This word often implies a significant physical effort.

  • They had to haul the equipment to the top of the mountain
  • The fishermen hauled in the large net full of fish
tug

Used for quick, sharp pulls, often repetitive. This word can be used to describe both physical actions and figurative situations.

  • The child tugged at her mother's skirt
  • He felt a tug of emotion when he saw the old photo

Examples of usage

  • He pulled the door open.
  • She pulled the rope and the curtain fell down.
Context #2 | Noun

force

A force drawing something towards oneself or into one's hands or possession.

Synonyms

tug, twitch, yank.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
pull

General term for exerting force to draw something towards oneself.

  • He decided to pull the door open despite the noise.
  • She pulled the rope to start the generator.
tug

Usually refers to a short, quick pull, often repeated. It can involve some resistance.

  • She gave a tug on his sleeve to get his attention.
  • The child tugged at the leash, trying to free the dog.
yank

Involves a sudden, forceful pull and often carries a slightly negative or abrupt connotation.

  • She yanked the blanket off him in annoyance.
  • He yanked the drawer open in frustration.
twitch

Describes a small, quick, often involuntary movement. It's not typically used for intentional pulling.

  • He felt a twitch in his eye from stress.
  • The fabric twitched as the mouse moved beneath it.

Examples of usage

  • With a quick pull, he opened the drawer.
  • She gave the rope a sharp pull.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Physics

  • In physics, pulling is associated with the force that acts toward the center of an object, like gravity pulling you toward the ground.
  • The concept of 'force' includes pulling, showing how two objects interact.

Everyday Life

  • You 'pull' doors to open them or pull on a rope when playing tug-of-war.
  • In cooking, you might pull apart meat to make it easier to eat.

Pop Culture

  • In the hit series 'Friends', Ross famously says, 'We were on a break!' during a pull on relationship dynamics.
  • Social media often uses the term 'pulling' to describe attracting followers or gaining attention.

Sports

  • In baseball, a 'pull hitter' is someone who tends to hit the ball toward the left side of the field for right-handed hitters.
  • In weightlifting, 'pulling' movements, like deadlifts, emphasize using strength efficiently for building muscles.

Origin of 'pull'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'pull' comes from the Old English 'pyllan' which means to draw or drag.
  • In Middle Dutch, 'pullen' meant to pull or drag, influencing the modern usage of the word.

The word 'pull' originated from the Old English word 'pullian', meaning 'to pluck or pull'. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to include various actions involving exerting force to move something towards oneself. The concept of pulling has been an essential part of human activities and has been used in a wide range of contexts throughout history.

See also: pullback, pulled, pulley, pulling, pullover.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,270, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.