pull-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈpu̇l-ˌəp 

plural pull-ups

: an exercise in which one hangs by the hands from a support (such as a horizontal bar) and pulls oneself up until the chin is level with the support

specifically : such an exercise done with the palms facing outward compare chin-up

pull up

2 of 2

verb

pulled up; pulling up; pulls up

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a stop : halt

2

: check, rebuke

intransitive verb

1

a

: to check oneself

b

: to come to an often abrupt halt : stop

2

: to draw even with others in a race

Synonyms

Verb

• arrest
• bring up
• catch
• check
• draw up
• fetch up
• halt
• hold up
• stall
• stay
• still
• stop

Examples of pull-up in a Sentence

Verb

the jockey tried to pull up the apparently injured horse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some of that has been the result of a welcome trade of pull-ups 2s for pull-up 3s, but he’s also been much more effective on short-range pull-ups and paint shots. —John Hollinger, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

This season, 138 of his 177 three-point attempts have come without a dribble, but he’s quietly been effective off the bounce, converting 41 percent of his pull-up threes. —Brian Sampson, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Verb

Police body camera footage, shared with The Star by the National Police Accountability Project, shows a lone officer pull up to the 5400 block of Haskell shortly before 6 p.m. Anderton is standing near the street curb holding his bicycle. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025

At one point, Min pulled up screenshots of texts allegedly showing Bang Si-hyuk responding sarcastically to NewJeans’s global success. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1