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 of pull-up

Verb

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• check
• stay
• draw up
• hold up
• bring up

Examples of pull-up in a Sentence

Verb

the jockey tried to pull up the apparently injured horse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Six Longhorns scored in the first quarter, which ended with Georgia native Bryanna Preston hitting a pull-up jumper at the buzzer. —Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026

Weathers also does a lot of hanging exercises now, dangling his 230-pound frame from pull-up bars in an effort to alleviate and stretch out his lat. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026

Verb

The next morning, Billie pulls up to the clinic, with Albert still a mess in the back seat. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026

Early Friday morning in Elgin, three trucks with flashing lights pulled up to a home near Melrose and Lawrence avenues. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

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