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.

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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

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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

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 .

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Etymology

Origin of pull-up

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

Example Sentences

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

That was during lockdown and his home gym consisted of a pull-up bar, a few weights, and a plastic bench in his garage.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2025

He shook off a defender and hit a pull-up.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

In need of a confidence boost, UCLA’s Dylan Andrews followed a pull-up jumper with a tough turnaround baseline jumper to pull his team within 53-47 with 12:36 left.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025

It was like trying to do a pull-up wearing lead shoes.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Related Words

• arrive
• brake
• pause