What does "pull-up" mean?
An exercise done for strengthening the arms and back in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar. Palms may be facing in any direction.
Pull-up
/ˈpʊl.ʌp/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An exercise done for strengthening the arms and back in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar. Palms may be facing in any direction.
- Grammar: pull-up is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acrobatics, aerobatics, banking, chin-up.
- Useful contrasts: push up, pushup.
- Usage evidence: I can’t do a pull-up yet, but I’m working up to it.
How to use "pull-up"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pull-up" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pull-up" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pull-up" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pull-up" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pull-up" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acrobatics" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pull-up", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An exercise done for strengthening the arms and back in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar. Palms may be facing in any direction.
"DeWitt compared the average number of pullups college men can do grasping the bar with palms toward the face (supinated) and palms away from the face (pronated), and with kicking and kipping while raising the body. The subjects averaged 2.08 more pullups with the palms supinated than with the palms pronated."
- 2 Synonym of training pants (“undergarments worn by incontinent people, typically infants, to aid in toilet training during the transition between diapers and underpants”).
- 3 A pull-up resistor.
- 4 an arm exercise performed by pulling yourself up on a horizontal bar until your chin is level with the bar wordnet
- 5 a roadside cafe especially for lorry drivers wordnet
Verb
- 1 To do a pull-up or pull oneself up similarly.
"2012, The Young Despondents. Jason M. Burns. With a sleek yet muscular build, Nick out pullupped everyone during physical fitness week"
Antonyms
push uppushup
Example
"I can’t do a pull-up yet, but I’m working up to it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pull-up"?
Common synonyms include: acrobatics, aerobatics, banking, chin-up, dive, diving.
How do you use "pull-up" in a sentence?
I can’t do a pull-up yet, but I’m working up to it.
How do you pronounce "pull-up"?
Pronounced /ˈpʊl.ʌp/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Deverbal from pull up.
Etymology 2
Genericized trademark: from the Pull-Ups brand of training pants sold by Huggies.
Etymology 3
Clipping.