Pull: meaning, definitions and examples

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pull

[pʊl ]

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?

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?

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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

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.

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.

Translations

Translations of the word "pull" in other languages:

🇵🇹 puxar

🇮🇳 खींचना (kheenchaana)

🇩🇪 ziehen

🇮🇩 menarik

🇺🇦 тягнути

🇵🇱 ciągnąć

🇯🇵 引く (ひく, hiku)

🇫🇷 tirer

🇪🇸 tirar

🇹🇷 çekmek

🇰🇷 당기다 (dang-gida)

🇸🇦 سحب (sahb)

🇨🇿 táhnout

🇸🇰 ťahať

🇨🇳 拉 (lā)

🇸🇮 vleči

🇮🇸 draga

🇰🇿 тарту

🇬🇪 გამოწევა (gamoc'ewa)

🇦🇿 çəkmək

🇲🇽 tirar

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.

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