pull apart

phrasal verb

pulled apart; pulling apart; pulls apart

: to be separated into parts or pieces by pulling

The rolls pull apart easily.

: to separate or break (something) into parts or pieces

She pulled the rolls apart with her hands.

—sometimes used figuratively

His gambling problem is pulling the family apart.

: 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The defence is pulled apart by two attacking runs and the space opens up for Zubimendi to slide the pass through. —

Thom Harris, The Athletic, 7 Aug. 2024 Across London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York City, the sisters come together and pull apart, grappling with what happens when four becomes three. —

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 Once the hide is off, seams between major muscle groups are visible, and many can be pulled apart by hand, or with only minimal assistance from a sharp knife. —

Wes Siler, Outside Online, 15 Oct. 2024 Split biscuits in half horizontally by making a small cut with a paring knife and pulling apart with hands. —

Tiffany Vickers Davis, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pull apart