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 of pull-up

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

But the Spurs need a system that can take that burden off him, beyond one of their other point guards getting to a contested midrange pull-up. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

It's seen me as a toddler splashing around in a pull-up and a life vest next to my parents on its Illinois beaches. — Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

Hospital security reported that a vehicle had pulled up, dropped off the victim and then sped away. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Adam Johnson, chief deputy clerk for the county clerk, said the voter registration database was not pulling up the correct dates of birth for some voters. — Susan Sarkauskas, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

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