# pulling

/ˈpʊɫɪŋ/ (US) · /pˈʊlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pulling
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. moving something toward you

verb · CEFR A2

the action of using force to move something closer to you.

For teachers: the present participle of 'pull', used to form continuous tenses describing the act of exerting force to move an object toward oneself.

- He was pulling the heavy suitcase behind him as he walked through the airport.
- The rescue team was pulling the survivors from the wreckage when the second storm front moved in, forcing a temporary halt to the operation.

### 2. the act of pulling

noun · CEFR B1

the act or physical effort of pulling something.

For teachers: the gerund form of 'pull', functioning as a noun to describe the specific instance or process of applying traction.

- The constant pulling on the rope made his hands very sore.
- The mechanical pulling of the cables is controlled by a central computer to ensure the bridge sections align with millimetre precision.

## Examples

- The heavy door requires a strong pulling motion to open.
- After several minutes of pulling at the stuck drawer, he finally managed to get it open.
- The rhythmic pulling of the oars against the current was the only sound audible across the lake as the sun began to set.

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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.