INDEX:
1. to pull something with your hands
2. to pull something suddenly
3. to pull something heavy
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ PUSH
↑ PRESS
see also
↑ CARRY
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1. to pull something with your hands
▷ pull /pʊl/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to hold something and make it move towards you by moving your arms :
▪ You need to pull this lever to start the machine.
pull something up/towards/away etc
▪ He pulled her towards him and kissed her.
▪ Pull the chair nearer to the fire.
pull hard
pull using a lot of effort
▪ Everyone took hold of the rope and pulled hard.
pull [countable noun]
give something a pull
▪ She gave a gentle pull on the reins, and the horse stopped.
▪ That door sticks a bit - give it a good pull.
▷ tug /tʌg/ [transitive verb]
to pull something using one or more short quick movements :
▪ The little girl was tugging her mother’s sleeve, trying to get her attention.
tug at
▪ We tugged at the door but it still wouldn’t open.
tug [countable noun]
give something a tug
▪ Tony gave Simon’s T-shirt a tug, and they both left the room.
▷ draw /drɔː/ [transitive verb]
to pull someone or something slowly and smoothly in a particular direction :
draw something in/up/back/near etc
▪ She took my hand and drew me closer.
▪ He wound in the line, steadily drawing the fish towards the bank.
▪ Paula drew back the sheet and looked at the sleeping child.
draw the curtains/drapes
pull them so that they cover the windows
▪ It was getting dark so I drew the curtains and switched on the light.
2. to pull something suddenly
▷ jerk /dʒɜːʳk/ [transitive verb]
to pull something with a sudden quick movement :
▪ He jerked the string and the light came on.
jerk something away/back/down etc
▪ Isabel jerked her hand away from his and shoved it in her pocket.
jerk [countable noun]
▪ She pulled the dog back with a sharp jerk of his leash.
▷ yank /jæŋk/ [transitive verb]
to pull something or someone with one sudden, quick and forceful movement, especially out of somewhere or away from something :
▪ The other girls surrounded her, calling her names and yanking her hair.
▪ Buddy yanked the drawer open, and took out the gun.
yank something away/out/back etc
▪ His friends grabbed him and yanked him to his feet.
▪ The child’s mother caught him just in time, and yanked him away from the kerb.
yank [countable noun]
▪ I gave the lever a yank, and the machine started up.
3. to pull something heavy
▷ pull /pʊl/ [transitive verb]
to make a vehicle or piece of machinery move along behind - use this especially about animals or heavy vehicles that are attached to something they are pulling :
▪ The Queen’s carriage was pulled by two white horses.
▪ a tractor pulling a plough
▷ drag /dræg/ [transitive verb]
to pull something or someone along the ground, especially because they are too heavy to carry :
drag something along/over/away etc
▪ One of the firemen went back in and dragged my husband out through the flames.
▪ Pick up your chairs, children. Don’t drag them along the floor.
▷ haul /hɔːl/ [transitive verb]
to pull something heavy with a strong continuous movement, often using a rope :
haul something along/out/away etc
▪ Somehow we managed to haul the boat out of the water and onto the bank.
haul in a net/rope
pull it towards you
▪ At about five o'clock the beach was full of activity, with the fishermen hauling in their nets.
▷ tow /təʊ/ [transitive verb]
if a vehicle or boat tows something, it pulls it behind it :
▪ What’s the speed limit for cars towing trailers?
tow something to/from/along etc
▪ The damaged ship was towed to the nearest port.
tow something away
tow a vehicle to a place where it can be repaired, or where it is not causing a problem
▪ The police had towed his car away because it was blocking the road.
▷ heave /hiːv/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to pull something very heavy with one great effort :
▪ Everyone pull together now. Are you ready? Heave!
heave something onto/into/over etc
▪ Rod bent down and heaved the sack onto his shoulder.