pull out meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

pull out

verbalso spelled pull-out

Etymology Inherited from Middle English pullen oute.

9 senses

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

Also, Figuratively To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.

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.

3 more examples

The racehorse pulled out of the Stakes with a hurt foot.
Pulling out of Paris would cause serious diplomatic damage.2017 May 31, Todd Stern, “Leaving the Paris Agreement Would Be Indefensible”, in The Atlantic:
There is still time to find a buyer and for them to stabilise the operation, especially if the deal were done by 31 May – when the club’s special licence to carry on is due to expire. There remain plenty of interested parties, who can only see Chelsea’s price dropping as sponsors pull out or consider their associations; as revenue streams are hit.2022 March 11, David Hytner, “Chelsea are in crisis but there is no will to leave club on their knees”, in The Guardian:

Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Of an aircraft To transition from a dive to level or climbing flight.

Literally To use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control.

Shortly before you ejaculate, you can pull out and use your hand (or hers) to push yourself over the edge. Some of my patients claim this is a more natural method of birth control[…]2006, David J. Clayton, The Healthy Guide to Unhealthy Living: How to Survive Your Bad Habits, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 110:
She'd long since caught the knack of moving with him, and closed her arms and legs around him. “You'll fly with me, Tiberius? Take the last fence with me?” He'd meant to pull out. Coitus interruptus was a term even the scholars failing their Latin knew before they left public school.2013, Grace Burrowes, Once Upon a Tartan, Sourcebooks, →ISBN, page 287:

Idiomatic To remove something from a container.

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

To draw out or lengthen.

To draw out by dragging or tugging.

The robbers ransacked the place, pulling out drawers and opening closets.1934 February 17, “Gunmen Loot Bori's Suite of $2,000 Gems, Bind 3 Hotel Employes; Opera Singer Away”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 21 Nov 2025:
Wearing a green beret and a long, dark coat, the Santa Ana man pulled out a sword with a 3-foot blade and calmly attacked in silence, almost beheading one of his victims.2003 June 30, Jack Leonard, Jennifer Mena, Dave McKibben, “Man With Sword Kills 2 at Grocery”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Nov 2020:

1 more example

Fraser was accused of pulling out the teeth of his victims with pliers.2014 November 26, Duncan Campbell, “‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser: original hardman who loved to cause panic”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Nov 2014:

Idiomatic To succeed despite long odds.

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.

Derived terms: puller-outer, pull it out, pullout, pull-out, pull out all the stops

adj

Etymology Deverbal from pull out.

That can be pulled out.

There's a little pull-out table under the sink, too.2023 February 8, Greg Morse, “Crossing the border... by Sleeper”, in RAIL, number 976, page 42: