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Another word for pull

a-z
Verb

  1. To exert force so as to move (something) toward the source of the force

      1. To pull at vigorously or repeatedly:
      2. To move by pulling with great effort or exertion; drag:
      3. To tow by tugboat.
      1. To draw or pull behind by a chain or line:
      2. The act or an instance of towing:
      3. Something, such as a tugboat, that tows.
      1. To pull or drag forcibly:
      2. To transport, as with a truck or cart:
      3. To cause (oneself) to move, especially slowly or laboriously:
      1. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag:
      2. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading:
      3. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something:
      1. To pull along with difficulty or effort; haul:
      2. To cause to trail along a surface, especially the ground:
      3. To move (a pointing device, such as a mouse) while pressing down on one of its buttons.
    See also:

    push

  2. To remove from a fixed position

      1. To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.
      2. To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident:
      3. To lacerate (the skin, for example).
      1. To remove or detach by grasping and pulling abruptly with the fingers; pick:
      2. To pull out the hair or feathers of:
      3. To remove abruptly or forcibly:
      1. To draw or pull out, often with great force or effort:
      2. To obtain despite resistance:
      3. To obtain from a substance by chemical or mechanical action, as by pressure, distillation, or evaporation.
    See also:

    put in

  3. To direct or impel to oneself by some quality or action

      1. To grasp or grip:
      2. To capture physically; seize:
      3. To seize with authority or legal right:
      1. To make magnetic.
      2. To attract, charm, or influence:
      1. Something that tempts or attracts with the promise of pleasure or reward:
      2. An attraction or appeal:
      3. A decoy used in catching animals, especially an artificial bait used in catching fish.
      1. To attract (someone), usually to do something, by arousing hope, interest, or desire:
      1. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag:
      2. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading:
      3. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something:
      1. To cause to draw near or adhere by physical force:
      2. To arouse or compel the interest, admiration, or attention of:
      3. To possess or use the power of attraction.
      1. An earnest or urgent request, entreaty, or supplication.
      2. A resort to a higher authority or greater power, as for sanction, corroboration, or a decision:
      3. A higher court's review of the correctness of a decision by a lower court.
      1. To attract with something desirable; entice:
      2. To be highly, often subtly attractive:
      3. The power to attract; enticement.
    See also:

    like

Noun

  1. The act of drawing or pulling a load

      1. The act of drawing or pulling, especially the drawing of a vehicle or load over a surface by motor power.
      2. The condition of being drawn or pulled.
      3. Pulling power, as of a draft animal or engine.
      1. To pull or drag forcibly:
      2. To transport, as with a truck or cart:
      3. To cause (oneself) to move, especially slowly or laboriously:
      1. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag:
      2. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading:
      3. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something:
      1. To pull along with difficulty or effort; haul:
      2. To cause to trail along a surface, especially the ground:
      3. To move (a pointing device, such as a mouse) while pressing down on one of its buttons.
      1. A current of air in an enclosed area.
      2. A device that regulates the flow or circulation of air.
      3. The act of pulling loads; traction.
    See also:

    push

  2. An inhalation, as of a cigar, pipe, or cigarette

      1. To come into contact with forcefully; strike:
      2. To cause to come into contact:
      3. To deal a blow to:
      1. A short forceful exhalation of breath.
      2. A short sudden gust of wind.
      3. A brief sudden emission of air, vapor, or smoke.
      1. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag:
      2. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading:
      3. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something:
      1. To pull along with difficulty or effort; haul:
      2. To cause to trail along a surface, especially the ground:
      3. To move (a pointing device, such as a mouse) while pressing down on one of its buttons.
    See also:

    breath

  3. An act of drinking or the amount swallowed

      1. A flexible band, as of leather or cloth, worn around the waist or over a shoulder to support clothing, secure tools or weapons, or serve as decoration.
      2. Something resembling a belt, as a number of machine-gun rounds attached together in a strip.
      3. An encircling route.
      1. A deep draft, especially of liquor; a gulp.
      2. To drink (liquid) or engage in drinking liquid in great gulps.
      1. To drink greedily or grossly:
      2. To follow the ingestion of (food, for example) with the ingestion of a liquid:
      3. To flood with water, as for washing or rinsing:
      1. To eat or drink (something) or engage in eating or drinking by taking small swallows or mouthfuls:
      2. A small swallow or mouthful of liquid food; a sip.
      1. To drink in small quantities.
      2. To drink from in sips.
      3. To drink something in sips.
      1. To drink (a beverage) heartily:
      2. To drink a liquid heartily:
      3. A hearty draft of liquid.
      1. The act of drinking.
      2. A drink, especially of an alcoholic beverage.
      1. To take into the mouth and swallow (a liquid).
      2. To swallow the liquid contents of (a vessel):
      3. To take in or soak up; absorb:
      1. A current of air in an enclosed area.
      2. A device that regulates the flow or circulation of air.
      3. The act of pulling loads; traction.
    See also:

    mouth

  4. The power to produce an effect by indirect means

      1. A piece of cloth, especially a baby's diaper.
      1. A measure of the heaviness of an object:
      2. The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity.
      3. A unit measure of gravitational force:
      1. To swing back and forth or to and fro.
      2. To incline or bend to one side; veer:
      3. To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling:
      1. The action of a lever.
      2. The mechanical advantage of a lever.
      3. Positional advantage; power to act effectively:
      1. A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort:
      2. Power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position:
      3. A person who exerts such power:
    See also:

    affect

  5. The power or quality of attracting

    See also:

    like

Idioms:

    pull back

  1. To move back in the face of enemy attack or after a defeat

    2. pull down

  2. To pull down or break up so that reconstruction is impossible

    3. pull down

  3. To receive, as wages, for one's labor

    4. pull in

  4. To come to a particular place

    5. pull in

  5. To control, restrict, or arrest

    6. pull off

  6. To begin and carry through to completion

    7. pull off

  7. To be responsible for or guilty of (an error or crime)

    8. pull on

  8. To put (an article of clothing) on one's person

    9. pull on

  9. To take into the mouth and swallow (a liquid)

    10. pull out

  10. To move or proceed away from a place

    11. pull out

  11. To move back in the face of enemy attack or after a defeat

    12. pull through

  12. To exist in spite of adversity

© Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Another word for pull

Noun

  1. The act of pulling

  2. Exerted force

      1. To pull at vigorously or repeatedly:
      2. To move by pulling with great effort or exertion; drag:
      3. To tow by tugboat.
      1. To pull, draw, or stretch tight:
      2. To cause distortion of (a body's parts or shape) by applying an external force; deform.
      3. To exert, use, or tax to the utmost:
      1. Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something:
      2. Such effort or activity by which one makes a living; employment:
      3. A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood:
    See also:

    strength

  3. *Influence

      1. The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
      2. One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials:
      3. Power assigned to another; authorization:
      1. A measure of the heaviness of an object:
      2. The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity.
      3. A unit measure of gravitational force:
      1. To swing back and forth or to and fro.
      2. To incline or bend to one side; veer:
      3. To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling:
      1. The action of a lever.
      2. The mechanical advantage of a lever.
      3. Positional advantage; power to act effectively:
    See also:

    influence

Verb

  1. To exert force so as to move

      1. To tear or split apart or into pieces violently.
      2. To tear (one's garments or hair) in anguish or rage.
      3. To pull away forcibly; wrest:
      1. To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.
      2. To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident:
      3. To lacerate (the skin, for example).
      1. To pull with a quick, strong movement; jerk:
      2. To extract or remove abruptly:
      3. To pull on something suddenly.
      1. Any of various hand or power tools, often having fixed or adjustable jaws, used for gripping, turning, or twisting objects such as nuts, bolts, or pipes, typically at an angle perpendicular to the object's axis.
      2. A sudden, forcible twist, turn, or pull:
      3. An injury produced by twisting or straining:
      1. To pull, draw, or stretch tight:
      2. To cause distortion of (a body's parts or shape) by applying an external force; deform.
      3. To exert, use, or tax to the utmost:
      1. To lengthen, widen, or distend:
      2. To cause to extend from one place to another or across a given space:
      3. To make taut; tighten:
      1. Something that tempts or attracts with the promise of pleasure or reward:
      2. An attraction or appeal:
      3. A decoy used in catching animals, especially an artificial bait used in catching fish.
      1. To cause to draw near or adhere by physical force:
      2. To arouse or compel the interest, admiration, or attention of:
      3. To possess or use the power of attraction.
      1. To allow to drag or stream behind, as along the ground:
      2. To drag (the body, for example) wearily or heavily.
      3. To follow the traces or scent of, as in hunting; track.
      1. A handle or projection used as a hold or support.
      2. A lug nut.
      3. A lugsail.
      1. To draw or pull behind by a chain or line:
      2. The act or an instance of towing:
      3. Something, such as a tugboat, that tows.
      1. To pull or drag forcibly:
      2. To transport, as with a truck or cart:
      3. To cause (oneself) to move, especially slowly or laboriously:
      1. To pull at vigorously or repeatedly:
      2. To move by pulling with great effort or exertion; drag:
      3. To tow by tugboat.
      1. To pull along with difficulty or effort; haul:
      2. To cause to trail along a surface, especially the ground:
      3. To move (a pointing device, such as a mouse) while pressing down on one of its buttons.
      1. To cause to move after or toward one by applying continuous force; drag:
      2. To cause to move in a given direction or to a given position, as by leading:
      3. To move or pull so as to cover or uncover something:
    See also:

    draw

  2. To remove by pulling

    See also:

    remove

    draw

  3. To incline

    See also:

    lean

Synonym Study

  • Tow implies pulling by means of a rope or cable to tow a stalled automobile
  • Haul implies sustained effort in transporting something heavy, often mechanically to haul furniture in a truck
  • Tug suggests strenuous, often intermittent effort in pulling but does not necessarily connote success in moving the object I tugged at the rope to no avail
  • Drag implies the slow pulling of something heavy, connoting great resistance in the thing pulled she dragged the desk across the floor
  • Draw suggests a smoother, more even motion than pull he drew his sword from its scabbard
  • Pull is the broad, general term of this list, meaning to exert force so as to cause to move toward or after the source of the force
© WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD® ROGET’S A-Z THESAURUS by Charlton Laird and the editors of Webster’s New World dictionaries. Copyright © 1999 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Sentence Examples

  • Here, let me pull out the stove.

  • Pull her up first.

  • He paused to pull up photographs on the screen.

  • We can pull in a Natural from Latin America.

  • Quinn, who'd been silent during our exchange, spoke up, "Maybe Daniel Brennan can pull in some favors."

More sentences →

Words near pull in the Thesaurus