pull off

verb

pulled off; pulling off; pulls off

transitive verb

: to carry out despite difficulties : accomplish successfully against odds

the team pulled off an upset

Synonyms

• accomplish
• achieve
• bring off
• carry off
• carry out
• commit
• compass
• do
• execute
• follow through (with)
• fulfill
• fulfil
• make
• negotiate
• perform
• perpetrate
• prosecute
• put through

Examples of pull off in a Sentence

the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops

Recent Examples on the Web

As recently as one week ago, some members of the organization were holding out hope of a dramatic playoff run, much like the Penguins almost pulled off late last season. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Jack Haven as Shaggy Taylor Hill/Getty Images Shaggy is really the heart of Mystery, Inc., and in order to pull off his specific mix of loveable goof and chill stoner, look no further than Haven. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 Mar. 2025

All eyes are on No. 1 Duke (33-3), but could No. 4 Arizona (24-12) pull off an upset? —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2025

LaBeouf's character Vince seemingly appears after serving a jail sentence related to a robbery and quickly goes about recruiting Sal to help pull off a major heist. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pull off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff