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verb pull pronunciation in British English /pʊl/
Word Forms
present tense
present participlepulling
past tensepulled
past participlepulled
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive, transitive]
    pull something away from/out of/into etc something: Help me pull the sofa away from the wall.
    I climbed into bed and pulled the blankets over my head.
    pull at/on: The little girl pulled gently at my sleeve.
    pull something open/shut: Jane pulled the door open.
    pull something tight: Don’t pull the string too tight.
    to remove something or someone from inside or under something by moving them towards you
    pull someone out of something: A lifeguard had to pull her out of the water.
    pull something from something: He pulled a suitcase from beneath the bed.
    Synonyms and related words
    1. a.
      [transitive] to move something along behind you
      Two horses were pulling the plough.
      Synonyms and related words
    2. b.
      [transitive] to move a handle that controls a machine so that the machine works
      You pull hard on this lever to start the motor.
      She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.
  2. 2
    [transitive] to use force to remove something that is fixed into or onto something else
    I’m going to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.
    pull something up: She was pulling up the weeds.
    pull off: Wash the mushrooms and pull off the stalks.
    Synonyms and related words
  3. 3
    [transitive] to move your body or part of your body using effort or force
    pull something up/out/back etc: She nearly lost a shoe pulling her foot out of the hole.
    Head aching, he slowly pulled himself to his feet.
    Synonyms and related words
  4. 5
    [transitive] to take a gun or knife out of a pocket and be ready to use it
    pull something on someone: His attacker suddenly pulled a knife on him.
    Synonyms and related words
  5. 6
    [transitive] to open or close something that covers a window
    Alice pulled the curtains shut.
    The shopkeeper pulled down the blinds.
  6. 7
    [intransitive/transitive] if something pulls a person or organization in a particular direction, it makes them want to do something by strongly attracting or influencing them
    Her heart pulled one way, her head another.
    Factions in the party are pulling in different directions.
  7. 9
    [transitive] to suck smoke from a cigarette, pipe etc into your mouth or lungs
    pull on/at: Mrs Harris stood at the door pulling on a cigarette.
  8. 10
    [intransitive/transitive] British informal if you pull someone, that person is attracted to you in a sexual or romantic way




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red market

the buying and selling of human organs

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