# pull over

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to move your car to the side of the road and stop. You do this to let another car pass or if the police signal you to stop.

For teachers: to move a vehicle to the side of or off the road and stop. It functions intransitively for the driver's own action or transitively when an officer directs a motorist to stop.

## Examples

- I had to pull over because my phone was ringing.
- The police officer signaled for the driver to pull over after he saw the broken taillight.
- Realizing the engine was overheating, the truck driver managed to pull over onto the narrow shoulder just before the vehicle stalled completely.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The police pulled over him." but "The police pulled him over." — when 'pull over' takes a pronoun object, the pronoun must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'to the side' or 'on the shoulder' to specify the location.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'pull out', which means to move into a lane of traffic; this pair is essential for describing driving maneuvers.

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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.