pull apart
phrasal verb
pulled apart; pulling apart; pulls apart
1
: to be separated into parts or pieces by pulling
The rolls pull apart easily.
2
: to separate or break (something) into parts or pieces
She pulled the rolls apart with her hands.
—sometimes used figurativelyHis gambling problem is pulling the family apart.
3
: to separate (people or animals) in order to stop a fight
Customers stepped in and pulled the two men apart.
Examples of pull apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In cross-examination, the defense team sought to pull apart each woman's story by raising questions about their judgment and behavior.
—
Ilya Marritz, NPR, 3 June 2025
The Crush 80 is easy to pull apart with its magnet ball catch.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 31 May 2025
After simmering in a pot for about 30 minutes, tiny creole potatoes are added and cooked until soft, and until the chicken is tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
—Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
The moon is etched with ridges and fractures, features that scientists suspect result from oceanic forces — like rising water or convection currents — pulling apart the ice from below.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull apart
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Ilya Marritz, NPR, 3 June 2025
The Crush 80 is easy to pull apart with its magnet ball catch.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 31 May 2025
After simmering in a pot for about 30 minutes, tiny creole potatoes are added and cooked until soft, and until the chicken is tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
—Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025
The moon is etched with ridges and fractures, features that scientists suspect result from oceanic forces — like rising water or convection currents — pulling apart the ice from below.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull apart
Cite this Entry
“Pull apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20apart. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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