pulling Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. noun the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
   pull.
   
   • the pull up the hill had him breathing harder
   • his strenuous pulling strained his back
2. verb cause to move by pulling
   pull; draw; force.
   
   • draw a wagon
   • pull a sled
3. verb direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
   pull; pull in; draw in; attract; draw.
   
   • Her good looks attract the stares of many men
   • The ad pulled in many potential customers
   • This pianist pulls huge crowds
   • The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers
4. verb move into a certain direction
   pull.
   
   • the car pulls to the right
5. verb apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion
   pull.
   
   • Pull the rope
   • Pull the handle towards you
   • pull the string gently
   • pull the trigger of the gun
   • pull your knees towards your chin
6. verb perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
   perpetrate; commit; pull.
   
   • perpetrate a crime
   • pull a bank robbery
7. verb bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover
   take out; pull; draw; pull out; get out.
   
   • draw a weapon
   • pull out a gun
   • The mugger pulled a knife on his victim
8. verb steer into a certain direction
   pull.
   
   • pull one's horse to a stand
   • Pull the car over
9. verb strain abnormally
   pull; overstretch.
   
   • I pulled a muscle in my leg when I jumped up
   • The athlete pulled a tendon in the competition
10. verb cause to move in a certain direction by exerting a force upon, either physically or in an abstract sense
    pull; draw.
    
    • A declining dollar pulled down the export figures for the last quarter
11. verb operate when rowing a boat
    pull.
    
    • pull the oars
12. verb rein in to keep from winning a race
    pull.
    
    • pull a horse
13. verb tear or be torn violently
    rive; pull; rend; rip.
    
    • The curtain ripped from top to bottom
    • pull the cooked chicken into strips
14. verb hit in the direction that the player is facing when carrying through the swing
    pull.
    
    • pull the ball
15. verb strip of feathers
    deplumate; pull; tear; pluck; deplume; displume.
    
    • pull a chicken
    • pluck the capon
16. verb remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
    take out; pull; pull out; pull up; draw out; extract.
    
    • pull weeds
    • extract a bad tooth
    • take out a splinter
    • extract information from the telegram
17. verb take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for
    root for; pull.
    
    • We all rooted for the home team
    • I'm pulling for the underdog
    • Are you siding with the defender of the title?
18. verb take away
    pull.
    
    • pull the old soup cans from the supermarket shelf

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