pullback

noun

pull·​back ˈpu̇l-ˌbak How to pronounce pullback (audio)
Synonyms of pullbacknext
: 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.
With Putin insisting on Ukraine’s pullback from Donetsk and Zelenskyy ruling it out, a quick deal appears unlikely. ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026 Meanwhile, new grant awards from NIH to academic labs fell by some 24% in 2025, a pullback that could slow down medical discoveries in the US. Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026 Stocks with a 14-day RSI above 70 are considered overbought, meaning that a pullback could be on the horizon. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026 Declining electric vehicle sales caused US clean investment to experience its largest quarterly drop in nearly a decade, part of a larger pullback caused by the elimination of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pullback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pullback. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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