Pool or pull?
pool is a noun meaning “A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a…”; pull is a verb meaning “To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing…”. Use pool as a noun and pull as a verb (pull is also a noun: “An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself)”). In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) pull is about as common as pool.
What is the difference between pool and pull?
| pool | pull | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun, verb | verb, interjection, noun |
| Meaning | A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water Any small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle To form a pool | To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.) Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched |
| Example | the pools of Solomon | When I give the signal, pull the rope |
| Forms | pools | pulls, pulling, pulled |
| Pronunciation | /puːl/ /pʉwl/ [pʊwl] | /pʊl/ /pəl/ /pʉl/ |
| In writing | 47 times per million words | 66 times per million words |
Sources: pool and pull in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of pool and pull
pool
- 1
A small and rather deep area of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream or river; a reservoir for water
the pools of Solomon
- 2
To form a pool
- 3
A supply of resources
- 4
To put together; contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of
We must pool our resources
- 5
Any small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle
- 6
A number of people when considered as a resource
dating pool
- 7
To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction
- 8
Ellipsis of swimming pool
pull
- 1
To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force
When I give the signal, pull the rope
- 2
Command used by a target shooter to request that the target be released/launched
- 3
An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself)
He gave the hair a sharp pull and it came out
- 4
To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.)
to pull fruit from a tree
- 5
An attractive force which causes motion towards the source
The spaceship came under the pull of the gas giant
- 6
To attract or net; to pull in
- 7
An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing
The hypnotist exerted a pull over his patients
- 8
IrelandUKslangTo persuade (someone) to have sex with one
I pulled at the club last night
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, pool or pull?
pool appears 47 times per million words; pull 66 times per million words.
pool 47 times per million wordspull 66 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).