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
Keep your spine neutral and pull your knees up into a tabletop position. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Aug. 2026 The same month, Meta threatened to pull its apps out of New Mexico entirely rather than comply with the state court order that Torrez’s office won. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the pull of the rip current. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 As wellness reshapes how Americans spend, the country’s heritage resorts are starting to feel the pull. — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 21 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
  • More than 200 walruses were hauled out on the beach, grunting and groaning, wriggling and jostling for position.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Beckham lunged and tried to haul it in, but the ball bobbled incomplete.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As the man was unconscious, Slawson was accused of yanking the suspect out of the police vehicle, causing the man to hit and split his head on the concrete, the press release stated.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • The seasonal calendar is stretching earlier, chains are competing to own the first sip of autumn, and customers are voting with their orders.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And Experian IdentityWorks is a solid, affordable pick if you're already stretched thin by loan payments, with a free tier and paid plans still under $25 a month for three-bureau coverage.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of stretch
Noun
  • To keep your dog safe, only tug from side to side as lifting the rope toy can damage your dog’s spine.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If your toddler stubbornly digs their heels in, don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a potty training tug of war.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • Still, oil's influence extends far beyond the professional traders and companies that dominate its market.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • When the internet is rife with influence and inspiration, who gets credit when someone is compelled to buy something online?
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • The Democrats are in their own civil war, which are giving Republicans an opportunity that historically gives them advantage in this election a problem.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Christian Cage took advantage with a low blow on Matt from behind.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of advantage
Verb
  • The multiday move lower in oil prices has also dragged bond yields lower.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Huskies ultimately won both ends of a home-and-home series, but the second game dragged perilously into overtime.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Early in this year’s war, the United States and Israel considered launching ground operations to extract nuclear material but never initiated them, judging them to be highly risky and unlikely to affect the regime’s decision-making.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • With the clock racing down to find Joe before she's extracted out of the country to her death, the team launches an assault against an airport hangar.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pull

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pull

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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