Meaning & use
pulls back
Last updated
“pulls back” is a form of “pull back”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Moves away from a place or position, often to avoid danger or to get a better view.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'from' or 'to': The army pulls back from the border.
Patterns
- pulls back from something
- pulls back to somewhere
The crowd pulls back when the fire truck arrives.
The soldiers pull back from the front line at night.
She pulls back from the window to let the others see.
verbintransitivefigurative
Stops being involved in something or becomes less committed to a plan.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'from': The company pulls back from the deal.
Patterns
- pulls back from something
The investor pulls back from the project after the bad news.
He pulls back from his friends when he is stressed.
The government pulls back from its promise to cut taxes.
Word forms
| base form | pull back |
|---|---|
| third person singular | pulls back |
| past tense | pulled back |
| past participle | pulled back |
| -ing form | pulling back |
Common combinations
- pulls back from the edge
- The car pulls back from the edge of the cliff.
- pulls back troops
- The general pulls back troops from the city.
- pulls back the curtain
- She pulls back the curtain to let in light.
- pulls back on spending
- The family pulls back on spending this month.
Synonyms and how they differ
- withdraws
- More formal and often used for military or official actions; 'pulls back' is more physical and everyday.
- retreats
- Suggests moving away because of danger or defeat; 'pulls back' can be neutral or strategic.
- recoils
- Means to move back suddenly in fear or disgust; 'pulls back' is less emotional.
Opposites
Word family
- pullback noun
- A reduction or withdrawal, e.g., a pullback in prices.
Commonly confused: pulls back or pull up?
pulls back vs pull up
Means to stop a vehicle or to pull something upward; 'pull back' means to move away or withdraw.
Practice
The soldiers ______ from the border after the peace agreement.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'pulled back' fits because the action is finished. 'Pulls back' is present tense and does not match the past time. 'Pull back' is the base form, which would need a plural subject in the present, but 'soldiers' is plural and the sentence is past. 'Pulling back' would need a helping verb like 'are'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pulls back”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.