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pull in

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To arrive somewhere, earn money, or attract people.

Literal meaning: To physically pull something inward — naturally extended to vehicles pulling themselves into a space.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

Of a vehicle or its driver: to arrive at or stop at a place.

"The bus pulled in right on time, and everyone rushed to get on."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To earn a particular amount of money.

"She pulls in over six figures a year working as a consultant."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To attract a large number of people or a significant amount of attention.

"The free concert pulled in thousands of visitors from across the country."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal

(British English, informal) Of police: to bring someone in for questioning or arrest.

"The detectives pulled him in for questioning after his alibi fell apart."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Has distinct literal (vehicle) and figurative (earning, attracting) uses. 'Pull in' for police questioning is more common in British English. In earnings contexts, it is informal.

Commonly used with

crowds station money earnings suspect driveway profits

Forms

Base
pull in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pulls in
he/she/it
Past simple
pulled in
yesterday
Past participle
pulled in
have + pp
-ing form
pulling in
continuous

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