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• pull-in
  pull-in

  noun

  drive-in.
• pull in
  pull in

  verb

  to reach a destination

pull-in

American  

[pool-in] / ˈpʊlˌɪn /

noun

British.

1. drive-in.

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pull in British  

verb

1. to reach a destination

   the train pulled in at the station

2. Also: pull over.  (intr)

   1. to draw in to the side of the road in order to stop or to allow another vehicle to pass

   2. to stop (at a café, lay-by, etc)

3. (tr) to draw or attract

   his appearance will pull in the crowds

4. slang (tr) to arrest

5. (tr) to earn or gain (money)

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noun

1. a roadside café, esp for lorry drivers

pull in Idioms  

1. Arrive at a destination, as in The train pulled in right on time . [c. 1900]

2. Rein in, restrain, as in She pulled in her horse , or The executives did not want to pull in their most aggressive salesmen . [c. 1600]

3. Arrest a suspect, as in The police said they could pull him in on lesser charges . [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of pull-in

First recorded in 1935–40; noun, adj. use of verb phrase pull in

Example Sentences

Nacua said his focus last season was to reduce the number of balls he dropped, and he delivered even when it required acrobatic moves to pull in catches with one hand.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The Northern California and Nevada affiliate aims to pull in more patients like Adeli, a longtime Sacramento resident who previously visited medspas for her injections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

"Everyone must be at their battle stations and pull in the same direction in order to bring 2030 to fruition," he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

In this scenario, a solid core slowly builds up inside a disk of dust and ice, gathering rocky and icy material until it becomes massive enough to pull in surrounding gas.

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

I tried to pull in a breath, but there was growing pressure.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• absorb
• bring in
• draw in
• earn