pull-down
Americanadjective
verb
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Demolish, destroy, as in They pulled down several old office buildings downtown . [Early 1500s]
-
Lower, reduce; also, depress in health or spirits. For example, The bumper wheat crop is bound to pull down prices , or The flu really pulled him down . [Late 1500s]
-
Draw as wages, as in He pulled down a hefty salary . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]
Etymology
Origin of pull-down
First recorded in 1905–10; adj. use of verb phrase pull down
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It included a lat pull-down, chest press, leg extensions, and cable-curl bar.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2023
The competition committee is scrutinizing the “hip-drop” tackle, a pull-down from behind that led to a broken leg for Dallas running back Tony Pollard and an ankle injury to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2023
Q: We need a new kitchen faucet but I’m confused with my pullout or pull-down choices.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2022
Find the full analysis at Heritage.org, highlighted on the main landing page, or listed under the “Explore Issues” pull-down menu, under the “Crime and Justice” category.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 8, 2022
We’d sit in a small hall with a rickety projector showing some family-oriented fare on a white pull-down screen.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
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"Some of the models are starting to indicate that we'll start to pull down some smoke," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
After multiple attempts to order Lowe to pull down the building, the council took her to court after she failed to comply with the demolition order.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
“Will be interesting to see how spiking gas prices pull down the two lower legs of the E,” another user wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
“If they’re running up against the 22% price increase year-to-date, they may pull down their buying programs to see if they can buy a dip, or they can buy when prices stabilize.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
I pull up the hood of the coat and pull down the sleeves over my bare hands.
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.