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
pulled up; pulling up; pulls up
1
a
: to check oneself
b
: to come to an often abrupt halt : stop
2
: to draw even with others in a race
Examples of pull-up in a Sentence
Verb
the jockey tried to pull up the apparently injured horse
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 June 2025
Dervin absolutely crushed the combine, scoring top-10 in the Wingate fatigue test, second in the class in the vertical jump, sixth in the bench press and top-five in the pull-up tests.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 June 2025
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 July 2025
When the officer pulled up behind the suspect, the suspect ran west beneath the Interstate 70 underpass along West 32nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge Police said.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull-up
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.
Noun
Started in the late 1950s by President Dwight Eisenhower, the fitness test evolved into five parts: curl-ups, a shuttle run, pull-ups or sit-ups, a sit-and-reach and a one-mile run.
—Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 June 2025
Dervin absolutely crushed the combine, scoring top-10 in the Wingate fatigue test, second in the class in the vertical jump, sixth in the bench press and top-five in the pull-up tests.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 June 2025
Verb
Ballard commiserated with Parker that night, at her home over some beers, until a couple black-and-whites pulled up, lights strobing, to arrest her for Olivas’ murder!
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 July 2025
When the officer pulled up behind the suspect, the suspect ran west beneath the Interstate 70 underpass along West 32nd Avenue, Wheat Ridge Police said.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull-up
Cite this Entry
“Pull-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull-up. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share