# pull back

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pull-back
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To move away from something or decide not to do something you planned. You use this when you withdraw from a situation or a deal.

For teachers: To withdraw from a commitment, position, or activity. It can be used intransitively to mean retreat or transitively to mean moving something backwards.

## Examples

- The army pulls back to a safer position.
- After seeing the high costs, the investors chose to pull back and wait for a better opportunity.
- Faced with an increasingly volatile market, the firm opted to pull back its international expansion plans to focus on domestic stability.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They pull back of the agreement." but "They pulled back from the agreement." — The phrasal verb 'pull back' typically takes the preposition 'from' rather than 'of' when indicating withdrawal.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by 'from' when withdrawing from a situation or 'on' when reducing spending.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'back out', which sounds more like breaking a promise, whereas 'pull back' sounds like a strategic decision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.