1 B1 neutral
to move a vehicle or person away from a place
"The taxi pulled away before I could wave again."
inseparable
pull away
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
to move away from something or become more distant
In plain English
to go away from someone or something
What does "pull away" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
to remove yourself from someone's touch or hold
"She pulled away when he tried to hug her."
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
to become emotionally less involved or connected
"He started to pull away after their last argument."
inseparable
4 B2 idiomatic neutral
to increase the distance between yourself and competitors
"Our runner pulled away on the final lap."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, to pull and create distance away.
Actually means
to go away from someone or something
Usage tip
Common in driving, physical contact, relationships, and races. Meaning depends strongly on context.
Words that pair with "pull away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
from the curb from him from the group in the race car hand
How to conjugate "pull away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pull away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pulls away
he/she/it
Past simple
pulled away
yesterday
Past participle
pulled away
have + pp
-ing form
pulling away
continuous
Hear "pull away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pull away"
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Keep exploring
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