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Synonyms

pull through

British  

verb

  1. Also: pull round.  to survive or recover or cause to survive or recover, esp after a serious illness or crisis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a weighted cord with a piece of cloth at the end used to clean the bore of a firearm

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
pull through Idioms  

  1. Survive a difficult situation or illness, as in We've had to declare bankruptcy, but I'm sure we'll pull through. [Mid-1800s]

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.

Two-time Australia champion Sabalenka had her chances, notably leading the final set 3-0, but the fifth seed retained her trademark cool to pull through.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

They were close to winning but unable to pull through in the biggest moments.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025

Our star dying is an event, the authors say, that even tardigrades are not going to pull through.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2025

If England do somehow pull through, it will be despite an overly casual approach that has left their 100% summer in serious jeopardy.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2024

They thought he’d die, but he managed to pull through … barely.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

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.