# pull out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to stop being involved in an agreement, project, or competition. You use this when someone decides to leave something they previously committed to.

For teachers: to withdraw from a commitment, undertaking, or organization. This phrasal verb is often used intransitively or followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the source of withdrawal.

## Examples

- The main sponsor decides to pull out of the deal.
- After the company's profits dropped, the board of directors decided to pull out of the international merger.
- The coalition forces were forced to pull out of the territory after the peace negotiations collapsed and public sentiment turned sharply against the intervention.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The team pulled out the competition." but "The team pulled out of the competition." — The preposition 'of' is necessary when mentioning the specific activity being abandoned.

## Usage notes

- When followed by an object, it almost always requires the preposition 'of'.
- Teaching tip: Contrast 'pull out' with 'back out'; 'pull out' is frequently used in business and military contexts for large-scale withdrawals.

---

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.