# pulled

/ˈpʊɫd/ (US) · /pˈʊld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pulled
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. moved toward you

verb · CEFR A2

the past form of 'pull', used when you moved something toward yourself or behind you.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'pull', indicating the application of force to move an object toward the source of the force.

- He pulled the heavy door open and stepped inside the house.
- The rescue team pulled the survivors from the wreckage just minutes before the rising tide reached the lower deck.

Usage: As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object representing the thing being moved.

### 2. shredded meat

adjective · CEFR B1

describes meat that has been cooked for a long time until it is soft enough to tear into thin pieces.

For teachers: denoting meat, typically pork or chicken, that has been slow-cooked until tender and then shredded into thin fibres.

- We had pulled pork sandwiches with spicy sauce for lunch.
- The chef served a platter of pulled brisket, slow-roasted for twelve hours until the connective tissue had completely broken down.

Usage: Almost always used as an attributive adjective directly before the noun it describes.

## Examples

- She pulled the heavy door open and walked inside.
- The child pulled a small wooden toy behind him as he ran through the park.
- The rescue team pulled the survivors from the wreckage just moments before the rising tide made the narrow cave entrance completely inaccessible to the divers.

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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.