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

• 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

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

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