pull

Where “pull” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To apply a force to (an object) so that it comes toward the person or thing applying the force.
2. 2
   To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward oneself; to pluck or pick (flowers, fruit, etc.).
3. 3
   To attract or net; to pull in.
4. 4
   To persuade (someone) to have sex with one.
5. 5
   To interest (someone) in dating or pursuing one (whether or not this has led to sex).
6. 6
   To remove or withdraw (something), especially from public circulation or availability.
7. 7
   To retrieve or look up for use.
8. 8
   To obtain (a permit) from a regulatory authority.
9. 9
   To do or perform, especially something seen as negative by the speaker.
10. 10
    To copy or emulate the actions or behaviour associated with the person or thing mentioned (with a and the name of a person, place, event, etc.).
11. 11
    To toss a frisbee with the intention of launching the disc across the length of a field.
12. 12
    To row.
13. 13
    To transport by rowing.
14. 14
    To achieve by rowing on a rowing machine.
15. 15
    To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
16. 16
    To strain (a muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.).
17. 17
    To draw (a hostile non-player character) into combat, or toward or away from some location or target.
18. 18
    To score a certain number of points in a sport.
19. 19
    To hold back, and so prevent from winning.
20. 20
    To take or make (a proof or impression); so called because hand presses were worked by pulling a lever.
21. 21
    To strike the ball in a particular manner. (See noun sense.)
22. 22
    To draw beer from a pump, keg, or other source.
23. 23
    To take a swig or mouthful of drink.
24. 24
    Of a railroad car, to pull out from a yard or station; to leave.
25. 25
    (Followed by a preposition or adverb) To drive (a vehicle) in a particular direction or to a particular place.
26. 26
    To pull over (a driver or vehicle); to detain for a traffic stop.
27. 27
    To repeatedly stretch taffy in order to achieve the desired stretchy texture.
28. 28
    To retrieve source code or other material from a source control repository.
29. 29
    In practice fighting, to reduce the strength of a blow (etymology 3) so as to avoid injuring one's practice partner.
30. 30
    To impede the progress of (a horse) to prevent its winning a race.

Etymology

Verb from Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian (“to pull, draw, tug, pluck off”), of uncertain ultimate origin. Related to West Frisian pûlje (“to shell, husk”), Middle Dutch pullen (“to drink”), Middle Dutch polen (“to peel, strip”), Low German pulen (“to pick, pluck, pull, tear, strip off husks”), Icelandic púla (“to work hard, beat”). Noun from Middle English pul, pull, pulle, from the verb pullen (“to pull”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: plul,ppull,pul,upll

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pull - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

Frequently Asked Questions