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

Over the final four minutes, the Celtics closed the game on a 16-7 run without attempting a single 3-pointer, though Tatum did draw a three-shot foul on one of his pull-up tries. —Jay King, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Down 44-42 with five minutes to play in the half, Tatum hit a three, then a pull-up baseline jumper, then another three, scoring eight points in a three-possession span as Boston seized control. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2025

Verb

Instead, pull up the plants at the end of the season and put them in the garbage. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025

Kevin Gates pulled up to the Los Angeles Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night (April 22), which had social media buzzing on the heels of his controversial remarks about Lakers star LeBron James and his wife, Savannah James. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for pull-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup