pull
verb (used with object)
to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position.
had been pulling
-
past perfect progressiveof pull.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The creatives had been pulling from ‘80s classic movies for the “nostalgia quality,” Maher said, but the challenge for him was creating something that still felt fresh and reflected Vecna’s power.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2025
On Sunday, the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said GPs had been "pulling out all the stops" but would need time to catch up with lost work.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2024
Two Navy pilots had been pulling stunts when one aircraft collided with the other.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 9, 2023
Jake Anderson, the skipper of the Saga and a star on “Deadliest Catch,” said he had been pulling up pots full of crab, “then nothing last year, absolutely nothing.”
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 3, 2022
At the height of Stargirl’s popularity, kids had been pulling chairs from other tables to squeeze around hers.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
