Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump to:
  • pull-up
    pull-up
    noun
    an exercise consisting of chinning oneself, as on a horizontal bar attached at each end to a doorpost.
  • pull up
    pull up
    verb
    (tr) to remove by the roots
Synonyms

pull-up

American  
[pool-uhp] / ˈpʊlˌʌp /
Or pullup

noun

  1. an exercise consisting of chinning oneself, as on a horizontal bar attached at each end to a doorpost.

  2. a flight maneuver in which an aircraft climbs sharply from level flight.


pull up British  

verb

  1. (tr) to remove by the roots

  2. to move level (with) or ahead (of) or cause to move level (with) or ahead (of), esp in a race

  3. to stop

  4. (tr) to rebuke

"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. an exercise in which the body is raised up by the arms pulling on a horizontal bar fixed above the head

  2. old-fashioned a roadside café

"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 up Idioms  
  1. Stop or cause to stop, as in He pulled up his horse , or They pulled up in front of the door . [Early 1600s]

  2. Catch up, advance in relation to others, as in a race. For example, She was behind at the start, but she quickly pulled up . [Late 1800s] Also see pull oneself up by one's bootstraps .


Etymology

Origin of pull-up

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase pull up

Vocabulary lists containing pull-up

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.

As long as Hegseth keeps his chest-thumping and pull-up contests in the land of make-believe, these men are happy.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

“He’s got to have more confidence in his three-point shot, his pull-up shot and focusing on his defense on the ball, using his quickness for that,” Cronin said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

It's a functional space; strip lighting, bench presses, pull-up bars and the tang of stale sweat.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

Doncic’s 45 points came from the wild array of skills he possesses — deep threes, drives where he pulled the emergency brake for a pull-up jumper and trips to the line thanks to his physicality.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

His pull-up jumper floats through the net, then everything goes slow motion: the ball, the player .

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "pull-up" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com