Want to master phrasal verbs with ‘pull’? This page covers all the key expressions using the verb ‘pull’ + prepositions, including meanings and real-life examples. From ‘pull ahead’ to ‘pull apart’, get ready to boost your English grammar, vocabulary and phrasal verb knowledge fast. Let’s begin with a quick overview of the verb ‘to pull’.
What does ‘pull’ mean?
The word ‘pull‘ can mean many different things. As a verb, the meaning is to use force on a person or object to make it move towards oneself.
For example:
- Stop pulling my hair.
Pull is a regular verb. The past tense and past participle is pulled.
FUN FACT – The verb ‘to pull’ is also a slang term to describe the action of kissing (British English) or making out with (American English) someone. Especially on a night out. For example:
- I pulled a fit girl at the club last night; we’re meeting up on Tuesday.
If you are going out with the sole intention of finding a partner, you can say you’re going ‘on the pull’.
phrasal verbs with pull list
Phrasal verbs with ‘pull’ include:
pull ahead
meaning – overtake, go in front of
example – Can Jennings from team GB pull ahead and win the gold?
pull apart
meaning – rip into pieces or separate
example – I’ve pulled apart the cooked chicken. Now, I must add the cheese sauce.
pull away
meaning – a vehicle starts moving, distance yourself from someone, or gain a lead
example – I reached out to hug him, but he pulled away.
pull back
meaning – gain some points/time and close in on the leader (after being behind), retreat
example – Ridgley had an amazing last lap, he pulled back a few crucial seconds on Turner.
pull down
meaning – demolish or pull to the floor
example – They’ve pulled down the old school to build a new hospital.
pull in
meaning – attract, stop at the side of the road or take to the police station
example – The club pulled in over 1000 people last night.
pull into
meaning – when a vehicle arrives at a place, or attract/draw something in
example – Once again, I got pulled into Lisa and Mark’s Facebook drama.
pull off
meaning – manage to do something difficult or a vehicle starts moving
example – The car pulled off quickly then hit a tree.
pull oneself together
meaning – compose yourself
example – We managed to pull ourselves together after the funeral finished.
pull out
meaning – a vehicle starts moving, stop participating or remove something from an enclosed space
example – Just after Jones pulled out of the pit stop, he was forced to pull out of the race.
pull over
meaning – stop at the side of the road or make some one stop at the side of the road
example – I quickly pulled over as smoke poured from my bonnet.
pull someone up (on something)
meaning – to criticise or correct someone
example – Kerry pulled Lee up on his rude behaviour.
pull through
meaning – recover from an illness
example – My grandad didn’t pull through, he died in the night.
pull to
meaning – close a door or window
example – Can you pull the window to? I’m a bit cold.
pull together
meaning – work as a team
example – We pulled together and redecorated their house before they came back from holiday.
pull up
meaning – a vehicle slows and stops
example – The train pulled up 15 minutes late.
If you enjoyed these picture phrasal verbs with real life examples, why not check out the other groups. The full list can be found here.
Did you know that many idiomatic expressions (idioms) in English also contain a lot of verbs? Just like phrasal verbs, idioms are a major part of the English language (slang in particular). They are used constantly amongst native English speakers and are handy to know and understand.
Now you’ve learnt all the phrasal verbs with pull, how about learning the idioms with pull too?