pull off

verb

pulled off; pulling off; pulls off

transitive verb

: to carry out despite difficulties : accomplish successfully against odds
the team pulled off an upset

Examples of pull off in a Sentence

the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops
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.
Trump has already shown his pragmatic side by pulling off a deal to keep TikTok in business in the US. semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Of the 20 rematches, the team that pulled off the upset the year before went 6-14 in the rematches. Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 Freedom of speech has been top of mind for industry professionals as of late, especially after Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily pulled off the air by ABC and major TV station operators Sinclair and Nexstar Media for his controversial comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025 Paltrow pulled off similar looks not just in her Instagram carousel, but also at her rare New York Fashion Week appearance earlier this month. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pull off

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pull off was in 1883

Cite this Entry

“Pull off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20off. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pull off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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