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
Get that distinction wrong, and a company can pull back while demand remains strong, enter a debate its customers did not ask it to join, or mistake the friction of switching for genuine loyalty. — Kari Butcher, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 Its forward motion carries it around Earth while gravity pulls it toward the planet. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
That day, the Star’s winning pull was Hall’s pick; Torino22, with top notes of bergamot, saffron, eucalyptus, heart notes of clary sage, mate, guaiac wood and bottom notes of musk and dry woods. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 What the research says about dupe demand For many consumers, the pull of a dupe comes from scoring something that offers a similar look or experience without paying the higher price of the original. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 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
  • The engine is perfectly adequate for daily driving, providing enough power to merge onto highways, navigate urban traffic, and haul the family toward its next destination.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • All of that material is currently hauled elsewhere for disposal, including round trips of about 200 miles to other biomass facilities.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • With the wheels threatening to come off, Rays manager Kevin Cash yanked Seymour and put in Kevin Kelly.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Ignoring that rule could get flood insurance coverage yanked for an entire community.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • The 49ers scored a touchdown on fourth-and-goal as running back Christian McCaffrey leaped over the pile of linemen and stretched the ball across the goal line, giving San Francisco an early 7-0 lead.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • More specifically, the Base-01 stretches out over a patch of earthen floor measuring 183 sq ft (17 sq m) – about the same amount of floor as this handsome Ikea tiny home.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretch
Noun
  • Nothing about Capra is weirder, to be honest, than the way in which, from one film of his to the next, suicide tugs at our sleeve.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The tug was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, south of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which has faced blockades and attacks in recent months.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • The four-bedroom home features modern heritage influences—like contemporary shaker furniture paired with more contemporary light fixtures—that define the interiors.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Dark matter cannot be observed directly through ordinary light, but its gravitational influence helps shape the distribution of galaxies.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Though 57% of voters say the Democratic Party does not have a clear vision for the future, Republicans hold no advantage in this category either, according to a CBS News poll released on Sunday.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Joe Burrow gives the Bengals the quarterback advantage, and the extra preparation strengthens their case.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of advantage
Verb
  • Season 2 picks up from where things left off, with Michael and Diana having barely arrived in Spain when they are dragged back into the fold to answer questions around Ricardo’s death.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesman denied Britain was being dragged in to the conflict.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Doctors can use catheters to enter blood vessels in the lungs and dissolve or extract the clots.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Heavy drones offer the advantages of speedy evacuation and potentially greater survivability for wounded soldiers, along with likely representing the only realistic option for extracting soldiers from dangerous frontline positions.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pull

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