Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun pull_back

2 senses of pullback

Sense 1
pullback, tieback -- (a device (as a decorative loop of cord or fabric) for holding or drawing something back; "the draperies were drawn to the sides by pullbacks")
       => holding device -- (a device for holding something)

Sense 2
pullback -- ((military) the act of pulling back (especially an orderly withdrawal of troops); "the pullback is expected to be over 25,000 troops")
       => withdrawal -- (the act of withdrawing; "the withdrawal of French troops from Vietnam")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb pull_back

5 senses of pull back

Sense 1
withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back -- (pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb")
       => travel, go, move, locomote -- (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast")

Sense 2
retract, pull back, draw back -- (use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ))
       => pull -- (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion; "Pull the rope"; "Pull the handle towards you"; "pull the string gently"; "pull the trigger of the gun"; "pull your knees towards your chin")

Sense 3
pull back -- (move to a rearward position; pull towards the back; "Pull back your arms!")
       => pull, draw, force -- (cause to move by pulling; "draw a wagon"; "pull a sled")

Sense 4
pull back, draw -- (stretch back a bowstring (on an archer's bow); "The archers were drawing their bows")
       => stretch -- (pull in opposite directions; "During the Inquisition, the torturers would stretch their victims on a rack")

Sense 5
retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw -- (make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity; "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns")