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

Synonyms

• accomplish
• achieve
• bring off
• carry off
• carry out
• commit
• compass
• do
• execute
• follow through (with)
• fulfill
• fulfil
• make
• negotiate
• perform
• perpetrate
• prosecute
• put through

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

Comments Nicolas Cage has pulled off some wild stunts throughout his storied career, but learning to stand up on a surfboard for his new movie proved more difficult than stealing the Declaration of Independence. —Mike Miller, EW.com, 3 May 2025

But our favorite part of this recipe might just be that with only 8 ingredients (including salt and pepper), 15 minutes of hands-on cooking time, and no fancy equipment required, anyone can pull off this recipe. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 May 2025

After all, in 2022, Rich Strike, an 80-1 longshot, shocked the world with a late charge and pulled off the second-biggest upset in Derby history. —Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Denver pulled off a win in Game 4 to even the series, winning 101-99. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pull off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff