pull back
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle back
Meanings
Withdraw from an action or commitment
Why “back”? Back creates distance or reduces progress. The change can affect a place, position, amount, promise, or plan.
“He pulled back at the last minute.”
“The sponsor pulled back before signing.”
“Investors pulled back when costs rose.”
Move troops away from a position
“They pulled their troops back.”
“The army pulled its tanks back.”
Don't confuse with
Pull back means withdraw from an action or commitment. Pull over means move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop.
Test yourself
“He pulled back at the last minute.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
pull over
A contrast learners often mix up
Draw a covering across the top; Move a vehicle to the side of the road and stop
cut back
Same back pattern: distance
Reduce sharply, especially expenditure; Reduce the amount of something, especially spending
die back
Same back pattern: distance
(of a plant) lose leaves and branches above ground while the roots survive
draw back
Same back pattern: distance
Move yourself away in hesitation
drive back
Same back pattern: distance
Force an attacker to retreat
drop back
Same back pattern: distance
Move to a position further behind
edge back
Same back pattern: distance
Move backward in small cautious steps
fall back
Same back pattern: distance
Move backwards quickly, often in retreat; Use something as a backup when other options fail; Move into a position behind others
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “pull back” in Sink In
Drill “pull back” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
