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.
After signing four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this month, Pittsburgh pulled off two trades on Monday that significantly improved its chances of being a championship contender. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 With this coup de ballon, Paris has pulled off the kind of pivot most Olympic host cities have not been able to manage once the Games have ended. Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 Other fan footage showed that Swift's bodyguard let Kelce pull off a romantic gesture earlier during the couple's night out — opening her car door, a job usually reserved for Swift's security team. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 29 June 2025 Then Spielberg shows her true mettle by pulling off a twist that proudly goes full horror. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 June 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 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pull off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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