pull off

verb

pulled off; pulling off; pulls off

transitive verb

: to carry out despite difficulties : accomplish successfully against odds

the team pulled off an upset

Synonyms

• accomplish
• achieve
• bring off
• carry off
• carry out
• commit
• compass
• do
• execute
• follow through (with)
• fulfill
• fulfil
• make
• negotiate
• perform
• perpetrate
• prosecute
• put through

Examples of pull off in a Sentence

the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops

Recent Examples on the Web

Domingo, 55, pulled off a rare back-to-back Best Actor nomination feat with his nod for Sing Sing earned only one year after his first nod for Rustin. —Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025

While accepting the Oscar for his (allegedly) supporting performance in A Real Pain, Culkin pulled off an acceptance-speech hat trick. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025

The Washington Commanders pulled off a massive trade to bolster their offense, acquiring former All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025

Mikey Madison also pulled off a surprise Best Actress win in a race that many thought would come down to a photo finish between Fernanda Torres and Demi Moore. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pull off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff