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

The mile and the shuttle run would present problems, given their ages, but the real obstacle would be the pull-ups. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025

The stop came on the heels of Lacan’s first field goal of the game, a pull-up midrange jump shot that ended a three-minute field goal drought for the Sun. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2025

Verb

The drivers pulled up next to each other with the Sierra to the left of the Tundra whose driver rolled down his window and yelled at Dousten who shouted back and pulled out a handgun, according to court documents. —Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025

The two drivers pulled up next to each other at the intersection of 51st Avenue and Camelback Road with the Sierra on the Tundra’s left, according to documents. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 22 Aug. 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