to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position

to pull a sled up a hill.

to draw or tug at with force.

to rend or tear

to pull a cloth to pieces.

to draw or pluck away from a place of growth, attachment, etc.

to pull a tooth; to pull weeds.

to strip of feathers, hair, etc., as a bird or hide.

to draw out (as a knife or gun) for ready use (usually fol. by on )

Do you know what to do when someone pulls a knife on you?

Informal . to perform successfully (often fol. by off )

They pulled a spectacular coup.

Informal . to carry out (esp. something deceitful or illegal)

Police believe the men pulled all three robberies. What kind of trick did she pull this time?

to put on or affect

He pulled a long face when I reprimanded him.

to withdraw or remove

to pull an ineffective pitcher.

to attract or win

to pull many votes in the industrial areas.

to bring (a horse) to a stand by pulling on the reins.

Printing, Graphics . to take (an impression or proof) from type, a cut or plate, etc.

to pull a print.

to be provided with or rowed with (a certain number of oars)

This boat pulls 12 oars.

to propel by rowing, as a boat.

to strain (a muscle, ligament, or tendon).

Military . to be assigned (a specific task or duty)

I pulled guard duty our first night in port.

to hold in or check (a racehorse), esp. so as to prevent from winning.

Sports . to hit (a ball) so that it travels in a direction opposite to the side from which it was struck, as when a right-handed batter hits into left field.

to exert a drawing, tugging, or hauling force (often fol. by at ).

to inhale through a pipe, cigarette, etc.

to become or come as specified, by being pulled

This rope will pull.

to row.

to proceed by rowing.

(of an advertisement)

to have effectiveness, as specified

The ad pulled badly.

to be effective

That spot announcement really pulled!

the act of pulling or drawing.

force used in pulling; pulling power.

a drawing in of smoke or a liquid through the mouth

He took a long, thoughtful pull on his pipe; I took a pull from the scout's canteen.

Informal . influence, as with persons able to grant favors.

a part or thing to be pulled; a handle or the like

to replace the pulls on a chest of drawers.

a spell, or turn, at rowing.

a stroke of an oar.

Informal . a pulled muscle

He missed a week's work with a groin pull.

a pulling of the ball, as in baseball or golf.

Informal . the ability to attract; drawing power.

Informal . an advantage over another or others. ?

pull away,

to move or draw back or away; withdraw.

to free oneself with force

He tried to pull away from his opponent's powerful grip.

to move or start to move ahead

The car pulled away into traffic. The faster runners began to pull away from the others.

pull down,

to draw downward

to pull a shade down.

to demolish; wreck.

to lower; reduce.

Informal . to receive as a salary; earn

It wasn't long before he was pulling down more than fifty thousand a year.

pull for, to support actively; encourage

They were pulling for the Republican candidate.

pull in,

to reach a place; arrive

The train pulled in early.

to tighten; curb

to pull in the reins.

Informal . to arrest (someone)

The police pulled her in for questioning.

pull off, Informal . to perform successfully, esp. something requiring courage, daring, or shrewdness

We'll be rich if we can pull the deal off.

pull out,

to leave; depart

The ship pulled out of the harbor.

to abandon abruptly

to pull out of an agreement.

pull over, to direct one's automobile or other vehicle to the curb; move out of a line of traffic

The police officer told the driver to pull over.

pull through, to come safely through (a crisis, illness, etc.); survive

The patient eventually pulled through after having had a close brush with death.

pull up,

to bring or come to a halt.

to bring or draw closer.

to root up; pull out

She pulled up all the crab grass in the lawn.

pull apart, to analyze critically

esp. to point out errors

The professor proceeded to pull the student's paper apart.

pull oneself together

to recover one's self-control; regain command of one's emotions

It was only a minor accident, but the driver couldn't seem to pull himself together.

pull someone's leg

leg ( def. 23 ) .

pull the plug. plug ( def. 35 ) .

verb

die , fail , lose

verb

come through , get better , get over , improve , rally , ride out * , survive , triumph , weather * , pull