pull out
B2Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
To remove something or someone from a place, situation, or commitment; to withdraw.
To depart or leave (e.g., a vehicle from a parking space); to produce or reveal something; to retreat from an agreement, deal, or difficult situation; to straighten or level something (e.g., a military maneuver).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a phrasal verb. Can be transitive (pull out something/someone) or intransitive (pull out). Often implies a deliberate, sometimes abrupt, action of removal or withdrawal from a contained space or binding situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use it similarly. In military/vehicle contexts, equally common. Slight preference for 'pull out of' (a deal) in UK English, where US might also use 'back out of'.
Connotations
In both, 'pull out of' (an agreement) can imply unreliability. In traffic contexts, neutral. The noun 'pull-out' (e.g., pull-out sofa, pull-out section of a magazine) is common in both.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties. No significant disparity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] pull out [of/from NP][subject] pull [object] out [of/from NP][subject] pull out [object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pull out all the stops”
- “pull the rug out from under someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The investor decided to pull out at the last minute, jeopardising the merger."
Academic
"The study was forced to pull out participants who did not meet the revised criteria."
Everyday
"Can you pull out the sofa bed for our guest?"
Technical
"The pilot had to pull out of the steep dive to avoid structural failure."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The train will pull out of platform four shortly.
- The company pulled out of the negotiations after the scandal.
- He pulled out a wad of banknotes from his pocket.
American English
- The army decided to pull out its forces by the end of the year.
- She had to pull out of the marathon due to injury.
- He pulled the car out of the garage.
adverb
British English
- This shelf pulls out smoothly. (verb particle, not a true adverb)
- N/A
American English
- The tray pulls out easily for cleaning. (verb particle, not a true adverb)
- N/A
adjective
British English
- We slept on the pull-out bed in the living room.
- The magazine included a pull-out poster.
American English
- The pull-out couch was surprisingly comfortable.
- Check the pull-out section for the detailed map.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dentist will pull out my bad tooth.
- The bus pulled out of the station.
- They had to pull out the old tree from the garden.
- He pulled out his keys and opened the door.
- The sponsor pulled out of the event, causing a budget shortfall.
- The government is pulling its troops out of the region.
- The publisher decided to pull out all the stops for the launch campaign.
- The economy is finally pulling out of a prolonged recession.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DENTIST pulling OUT a tooth from your mouth – a clear physical removal.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMITMENTS ARE CONTAINERS / JOURNEYS (pulling out of a deal). DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ARE HOLES (pulling out of a recession).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "вытащить" for abstract withdrawals (use 'withdraw'). "Pull out" of a deal is not "потянуть наружу" but "выйти из сделки". Avoid literal translation for 'pull out of a recession'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'pull out *from* the deal' (neutral) vs. 'pull out *of* the deal' (more common). Using it for gradual, non-deliberate processes. Separating the verb incorrectly: 'He pulled quickly out' (awkward) vs. 'He pulled out quickly'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'pull out' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, often. You can say 'pull the plug out' or 'pull out the plug'. However, with pronouns, it must be separated: 'pull it out', not 'pull out it'.
They are similar for withdrawing from agreements. 'Back out' often carries a stronger sense of breaking a promise or commitment, while 'pull out' can be more neutral, strategic, or physical.
Not directly. 'Pull out' can mean to recover from a bad situation (e.g., 'pull out of a recession/depression'), which implies improvement, but the verb itself means 'to exit/withdraw from' that situation.
A thing designed to be pulled out, like a pull-out bed/sofa (sofabed), or a separate section of a magazine or newspaper that can be removed.