1 A2 neutral
To put on a piece of clothing by pulling it over or up your body.
"She quickly pulled on her boots and ran out the door."
separable
pull on
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To dress oneself by pulling a garment on, or to pull at something repeatedly.
In plain English
To put on a piece of clothing by pulling it over your body, or to keep pulling something.
What does "pull on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To pull at something repeatedly, often a rope, handle, or someone's clothing.
"The child kept pulling on her mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Transparent — to pull a garment onto the body.
Actually means
To put on a piece of clothing by pulling it over your body, or to keep pulling something.
Usage tip
Mostly used for garments pulled over the head or up the legs (jumpers, boots, jeans). Also used for the action of pulling a rope, lever, or similar object repeatedly.
Words that pair with "pull on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
jumper boots coat gloves jeans rope sleeve
How to conjugate "pull on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pull on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pulls on
he/she/it
Past simple
pulled on
yesterday
Past participle
pulled on
have + pp
-ing form
pulling on
continuous
Hear "pull on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "pull on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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