Phrase guide

pull out

verb · 13 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pull, out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I need to pull the splinter out of my hand.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, figuratively, intransitive

Examples

  • The troops pulled out of the conflict.
  • The mayor pulled out of the race for Senate after numerous opinion polls had him polling at less than 10 percent.
  • The racehorse pulled out of the Stakes with a hurt foot.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To transition from a dive to level or climbing flight.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • After releasing its bomb, the plane pulled out of its dive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, literally

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To remove something from a container.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • He pulled his gun out before she had a chance to scream.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: whip out, draw

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • When joining a road, you should check for traffic before pulling out.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To draw out or lengthen.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To draw out by dragging or tugging.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To succeed despite long odds.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Nobody thought they'd win, but the football team pulled out a victory.
  • They were behind by 29 points in the third quarter, but they pulled it out at the buzzer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • pull weeds
  • extract a bad tooth
  • take out a splinter
  • extract information from the telegram

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: extract, pull, pull up, take out, draw out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw

Narrower terms: wring out, squeeze out, demodulate, thread

11

verb

Meaning 11

bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • draw a weapon
  • pull out a gun
  • The mugger pulled a knife on his victim

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: draw, pull, get out, take out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw

Narrower terms: unsheathe

12

verb

Meaning 12

move out or away

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The troops pulled out after the cease-fire

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get out

Antonyms: pull in

Broader terms: leave, go forth, go away

13

verb

Meaning 13

remove oneself from an obligation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chicken out, back off, back down, bow out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: retire, withdraw

Narrower terms: resile

History

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pullen oute.

Across languages

Translations

45 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: geri çəkilmək — to withdraw
  • Bulgarian: изваждам (izvaždam) — to withdraw
  • Catalan: retirar — to withdraw
  • Finnish: vetäytyä — to withdraw
  • French: se retirer — to withdraw
  • Korean: 회수(回收)하다 (hoesuhada) — to withdraw
  • Lushootseed: ʔuq̓wu — to withdraw
  • Portuguese: retirar — to withdraw
  • Portuguese: retirar-se — to withdraw
  • Russian: выходи́ть (vyxodítʹ) — to withdraw
  • Russian: вы́йти (výjti) — to withdraw
  • Russian: отступа́ть (otstupátʹ) — to withdraw
  • Spanish: retirarse — to withdraw
  • Walloon: si rsaetchî — to withdraw
  • Arabic: عَزَلَ (ʕazala) — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Bulgarian: изваждам (izvaždam) — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Catalan: marxa enrere — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Dutch: zich terugtrekken — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • French: se retirer — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Italian: tirarlo fuori — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Portuguese: tirar — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Russian: вынимать (vynimatʹ) — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Russian: вынуть (vynutʹ) — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Spanish: marcha atrás — to use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control
  • Azerbaijani: çıxarmaq — to remove something from a container
  • Bulgarian: изваждам (izvaždam) — to remove something from a container
  • Catalan: treure — to remove something from a container
  • Catalan: extreure — to remove something from a container
  • French: sortir — to remove something from a container
  • Galician: sacar — to remove something from a container
  • German: herausziehen — to remove something from a container
  • Kambera: butuh — to remove something from a container
  • Māori: kōwhiti — to remove something from a container
  • Portuguese: puxar — to remove something from a container
  • Portuguese: tirar — to remove something from a container
  • Russian: вынима́ть (vynimátʹ) — to remove something from a container
  • Russian: вы́нуть (výnutʹ) — to remove something from a container
  • Russian: выта́скивать (vytáskivatʹ) — to remove something from a container
  • Russian: вы́тащить (výtaščitʹ) — to remove something from a container
  • Spanish: sacar — to remove something from a container
  • Bulgarian: потеглям (potegljam) — to maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane
  • Dutch: optrekken — to maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane
  • French: s'engager — to maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane
  • French: déboucher — to maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane
  • Portuguese: sair — to maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane