pull back

English Thesaurus

1. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity (verb.communication)

verb group	:	draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retire, retreat, withdraw,
definition	:	pull back or move away or backward (verb.motion)

2. stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow) (verb.contact)

hypernym	:	stretch,
definition	:	pull in opposite directions (verb.contact)

verb group	:	pull back,
definition	:	move to a rearward position; pull towards the back (verb.contact)

3. move to a rearward position; pull towards the back (verb.contact)

hypernym	:	draw, force, pull,
definition	:	cause to move by pulling (verb.contact)

verb group	:	draw, pull back,
definition	:	stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow) (verb.contact)

4. use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ) (verb.contact)

hypernym	:	pull,
definition	:	apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion (verb.contact)

5. pull back or move away or backward (verb.motion)

hypernym	:	go, locomote, move, travel,
definition	:	change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically (verb.motion)

hyponym	:	fall back,
definition	:	move back and away from (verb.motion)

hyponym	:	retreat, retrograde,
definition	:	move back (verb.motion)

hyponym	:	back down, back off, back up,
definition	:	move backwards from a certain position (verb.motion)

verb group	:	back away, back out, crawfish, crawfish out, pull back, pull in one's horns, retreat, withdraw,
definition	:	make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity (verb.communication)

6. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity (verb.communication)

derivation	:	withdrawal,
definition	:	the act of withdrawing (noun.act)

derivation	:	withdrawer,
definition	:	a student who withdraws from the educational institution in which he or she was enrolled (noun.person)

derivation	:	withdrawer,
definition	:	a contestant who withdraws from competition (noun.person)

7. use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ) (verb.contact)

derivation	:	retractor,
definition	:	surgical instrument that holds back the edges of a surgical incision (noun.artifact)

8. pull back or move away or backward (verb.motion)

antonym	:	advance, go on, march on, move on, pass on, progress,
definition	:	move forward, also in the metaphorical sense (verb.motion)

derivation	:	withdrawal,
definition	:	the act of withdrawing (noun.act)

derivation	:	pullback,
definition	:	(military) the act of pulling back (especially an orderly withdrawal of troops) (noun.act)

derivation	:	receding, recession,
definition	:	the act of becoming more distant (noun.act)

9. make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity (verb.communication)

derivation	:	withdrawal,
definition	:	the act of withdrawing (noun.act)

derivation	:	withdrawer,
definition	:	a student who withdraws from the educational institution in which he or she was enrolled (noun.person)

derivation	:	withdrawer,
definition	:	a contestant who withdraws from competition (noun.person)

10. use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ) (verb.contact)

derivation	:	retractor,
definition	:	surgical instrument that holds back the edges of a surgical incision (noun.artifact)

11. pull back or move away or backward (verb.motion)

antonym	:	advance, go on, march on, move on, pass on, progress,
definition	:	move forward, also in the metaphorical sense (verb.motion)

derivation	:	withdrawal,
definition	:	the act of withdrawing (noun.act)

derivation	:	pullback,
definition	:	(military) the act of pulling back (especially an orderly withdrawal of troops) (noun.act)

derivation	:	receding, recession,
definition	:	the act of becoming more distant (noun.act)