pullback

noun

pull·​back ˈpu̇l-ˌbak How to pronounce pullback (audio)
: a pulling back
especially : an orderly withdrawal of troops from a position or area

Examples of pullback in a Sentence

a pullback in consumer spending the pullback was necessary so that the commanders could reorganize their units and reassess the situation
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.
That pullback comes as investors fear CEO Elon Musk gets more involved in Washington, potentially taking his attention away from the automaker and alienating customers. Pia Singh, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025 No one knows for sure how America’s economy will react to a drastic pullback on spending and employment because it hasn’t been done for two generations. The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025 The easiest way to do that is to find the stocks that are up or didn’t fall as much as the market during this pullback. Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 Soft signals about the economy The pullback in spending comes at a time when American consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic on fears that inflation will pick up because of President Donald Trump’s talk of wide-ranging tariffs, according to various surveys. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pullback

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pullback was in 1668

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Cite this Entry

“Pullback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pullback. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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