haul
to lower; cause to descend (often followed by down): As the school gathered round the flagpole, the school custodian hauled down the flag.
to arrest or bring before a magistrate or other authority (often followed by before, in, to, into, etc.): He was hauled before the judge.
to pull or tug.
to go or come to a place, especially with effort: After roistering about the streets, they finally hauled into the tavern.
to do carting or transport, or move freight commercially.
Nautical.
to sail, as in a particular direction.
to draw or pull a vessel up on land, as for repairs or storage.
(of the wind) to shift to a direction closer to the heading of a vessel (opposed to veer).
(of the wind) to change direction, shift, or veer (often followed by round or to).
an act or instance of hauling; a strong pull or tug.
something that is hauled.
the load hauled at one time; quantity carried or transported.
the distance or route over which anything is hauled.
Fishing.
the quantity of fish taken at one draft of the net.
the draft of a fishing net.
the place where a seine is hauled.
the act of taking or acquiring something.
something that is taken or acquired: The thieves' haul included several valuable paintings.
haul off,
Nautical. to change a ship's course so as to get farther off from an object.
to withdraw; leave.
Informal. to draw back the arm in order to strike; prepare to deal a blow: He hauled off and struck the insolent lieutenant a blow to the chin.
haul up,
to bring before a superior for judgment or reprimand; call to account.
to come to a halt; stop.
Nautical. to change the course of (a sailing vessel) so as to sail closer to the wind.
Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to come closer to the wind.
Nautical. (of a vessel) to come to a halt.
Idioms about haul
haul around, Nautical.
to brace (certain yards of a sailing vessel).
(of the wind) to change in a clockwise direction.
haul in with, Nautical. to approach.
haul / shag ass, Slang: Vulgar. to get a move on; hurry.
Origin of haul
1synonym study For haul
Other words from haul
- re·haul, verb
- un·hauled, adjective
Words that may be confused with haul
- hall, haul
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use haul in a sentence
This lonely mushroom wasn’t the haul, mind you, but rather an indicator.
People who are resourceful and come up with ways of managing changing conditions personally or professionally do better over the long haul.
What You Can Learn from Living in Antarctica - Issue 92: Frontiers | Marissa Grunes | November 11, 2020 | NautilusI think we are in this for the long haul, and the more we integrate technology and the sooner we do it, the more we are serving students and keeping the rest of the community safe.
‘Telepresence’ robots are making virtual school feel a little more like real school | Jennifer Davis | November 10, 2020 | Washington PostCheck out the full Ivy Park x Adidas Monique try-on haul here.
Monique Is The Latest To Receive The Ivy Park Gift Box | Joe Colucci | November 9, 2020 | Essence.comWe shouldn’t expect this pandemic to end quickly even after a vaccine is available—and that means we’re in for a long haul.
The current state of the pandemic in five graphs | Sara Chodosh | October 23, 2020 | Popular-Science
And a 9-year-old black girl was handcuffed and hauled off to jail by police in Oregon.
It's Not Just Teens Like Michael Brown—Even Small Black Children Are Suspect | Sally Kohn | August 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAn Instagram user was also able to snap a photo of LaBeouf being hauled off in handcuffs by NYPD officers.
Shia LaBeouf’s Most Gangsta Move Yet: Getting Hauled Off In Handcuffs During Broadway’s ‘Cabaret’ | Marlow Stern | June 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHere he is describing the state of the body when it is hauled ashore: “Its humanity had been lost to the ravages of nature.”
We hauled them out immediately, regardless of his feelings.
Polar Explorer vs. Reality TV Crew: Tim Jarvis in the Footsteps of Shackleton | Darrell Hartman | January 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShawn sat up to say something, and he hauled off and backhanded her across the face.
The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis | Richard Ben Cramer | January 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA party of American marines boarded her, hauled down the Spanish flag, and tried to save the hull, but it was too far consumed.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanAt night we hauled the seine, and procured about four dozen fish, principally mullet.
Bridges had been broken down, and the guns had to be hauled through jungle and woods under a scorching sun.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanAt a quarter before seven o'clock we hauled to the wind for the night with a fresh gale from the southward.
Standing near the top of the stairs, he reached out and hauled the bound and helpless guard down to his level.
British Dictionary definitions for haul
/ (hɔːl) /
to drag or draw (something) with effort
(tr) to transport, as in a lorry
nautical to alter the course of (a vessel), esp so as to sail closer to the wind
(tr) nautical to draw or hoist (a vessel) out of the water onto land or a dock for repair, storage, etc
(intr) nautical (of the wind) to blow from a direction nearer the bow: Compare veer 1 (def. 3b)
(intr) to change one's opinion or action
the act of dragging with effort
(esp of fish) the amount caught at a single time
something that is hauled
the goods obtained from a robbery
a distance of hauling: a three-mile haul
the amount of a contraband seizure: arms haul; drugs haul
in the long haul or over the long haul
in a future time
over a lengthy period of time
Origin of haul
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with haul
In addition to the idioms beginning with haul
- haul off
- haul over the coals
- haul up
also see:
- long haul
- rake (haul) over the coals
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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