Illustration of pulley
- pulley 2
plural pulleys
1
: a sheave or small wheel with a grooved rim and with or without the block in which it runs used singly with a rope or chain to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force and in various combinations to increase the applied force especially for lifting weights
2
: a pulley or pulleys with ropes to form a tackle that constitutes one of the simple machines
3
: a wheel used to transmit power by means of a band, belt, cord, rope, or chain passing over its rim
Examples of pulley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Babycatcher chewed his twig and held on to a thin rope, not much more than a string, which disappeared up into the canopy, likely connected to the pulleys and rigs and tackle that worked the biggest net down below.
—
Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
As the water current pushes against the kites, their motion drives the cable, which in turn powers generators at the pulleys to produce electricity.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
But where barrel jeans play with proportions and cuts, these pants are more about doohickeys and thingamabobs, straps, flaps, and pulleys.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Unlike mat Pilates, which utilizes an exercise mat as its base, Club Pilates teaches reformer Pilates which uses a specialized machine made up of a sliding carriage, springs, pulleys, a headrest and foot bar.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
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Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
As the water current pushes against the kites, their motion drives the cable, which in turn powers generators at the pulleys to produce electricity.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
But where barrel jeans play with proportions and cuts, these pants are more about doohickeys and thingamabobs, straps, flaps, and pulleys.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Unlike mat Pilates, which utilizes an exercise mat as its base, Club Pilates teaches reformer Pilates which uses a specialized machine made up of a sliding carriage, springs, pulleys, a headrest and foot bar.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pulley
Cite this Entry
“Pulley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulley. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pulley
noun
pul·ley
ˈpu̇l-ē 
plural pulleys
: a small wheel with a grooved rim used with a rope or chain to change the direction of a pulling force and in combination to increase the force applied for lifting
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