Pull out meaning
Pull out means to take something out of a place, often using force. It can also mean to decide not to take part in something any more.
pull something out
pull out · pulled · pulling
The dentist pulled out my bad tooth.
Pull out meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Take something out of a place, often using force
pull something out
- The dentist pulled out my bad tooth.
- She pulled a chair out and sat down.
- The plug is stuck. Can you pull it out?
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2
Decide not to take part in something any more
pull out
- Two players pulled out of the match with injuries.
- The buyer pulled out at the last minute.
- Why did they pull out of the deal?
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3
Drive a car from the side onto a road or into another lane
pull out
- A bus pulled out right in front of me.
- Look both ways before you pull out.
- The train pulled out of the station on time.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use pull out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is pull out separable?
When pull out means take something out, it is separable: pull out a tooth, pull a tooth out, pull it out.
When pull out means stop taking part or start driving, it has no object. Add of for the thing you leave: She pulled out of the race.
Verb tenses for pull out
| Present | I pull out · she pulls out |
|---|---|
| Past | pulled out |
| Present perfect | have pulled out |
| -ing form | pulling out |
Common mistakes with pull out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: There’s a splinter in my finger. Can you pull out it?
Right: There’s a splinter in my finger. Can you pull it out?
A pronoun goes between pull and out.
Wrong: He pulled out from the competition.
Right: He pulled out of the competition.
Use of, not from, for the thing you leave.
Wrong: She pulled out the race because she was ill.
Right: She pulled out of the race because she was ill.
Without of, it sounds like she took the race out of something.
Synonyms and opposites of pull out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- take outremove something; pull out adds force
- withdrawthe formal word for leaving a race or deal
- drop outleave a school or course before the end
Opposite
- put inplace something inside
- sign upagree to join something
- pull overdrive to the side of the road and stop
Pull out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The vet ___ a thorn from the dog’s paw.
Pull out means take something out, often with force.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use pull out of before the event you leave.
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3A driving teacher says, “Check your mirror before you pull out.” What are you going to do?
Here pull out means start driving onto the road.
More phrasal verbs with pull
3 phrasal verbs start with pull. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Pull out FAQ
Questions people ask about pull out.
What does pull out of mean?
It means stop being part of something you agreed to, like a race, a deal or a trip. She pulled out of the trip because of work.
Pull out vs drop out: what is the difference?
Pull out is for events, deals and races, often before they start. Drop out is mostly for school, a course or a race you already started.
What is a pull-out?
In a magazine or newspaper, a pull-out is a part you can take out and keep, like a map or a poster.
Use pull out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.