pulling out

Verb

pull out (third-person singular simple present pulls out, present participle pulling out, simple past and past participle pulled out)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pull, out.
   • I need to pull the splinter out of my hand.
2. (also, figuratively, intransitive) To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.
   • The troops pulled out of the conflict.
3. (intransitive) To transition from a dive to level or climbing flight.
   • After releasing its bomb, the plane pulled out of its dive.
4. (intransitive, literally) To use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control.
   • Shortly before you ejaculate, you can pull out and use your hand (or hers) to push yourself over the edge. Some of my patients claim this is a more natural method of birth control[…]2006, David J. Clayton, The Healthy Guide to Unhealthy Living: How to Survive Your Bad Habits, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 110
5. (idiomatic, transitive) To remove something from a container.
   • He pulled his gun out before she had a chance to scream.

   Synonyms:

   whip out, draw

6. (idiomatic, intransitive) To maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane.
   • When joining a road, you should check for traffic before pulling out.

See all 9 meanings of pull out