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 Clippers as a team were as hot as Doncic, with Harden’s pull-up 3-pointer toward the end of the quarter giving the visitors a 38-37 lead entering the second. —Khobi Price, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025

But this approach has the same flaw as max heart rate—the resulting stimulus varies too much from person to person—and is also meaningless for bodyweight exercises like push-ups or pull-ups. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Nov. 2025

Verb

Fallon was sporting a beauty, too, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a gorgeous limited-edition Cartier Santos-Dumont with a green malachite dial. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2025

Sturdy directors chairs with rattan backing pull up to marble tabletops. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Nov. 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