Illustration of pulley
- pulley 2
plural pulleys
1
: a sheave or small wheel with a grooved rim and with or without the block in which it runs used singly with a rope or chain to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force and in various combinations to increase the applied force especially for lifting weights
2
: a pulley or pulleys with ropes to form a tackle that constitutes one of the simple machines
3
: a wheel used to transmit power by means of a band, belt, cord, rope, or chain passing over its rim
Examples of pulley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iconic motifs — ropes, pulleys and signal flags — are woven into the collection, merging collegiate-prep aesthetics and sea-faring influence to reinforce Tommy Hilfiger’s signature fusion of sport and style.
—
Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The group erected a system of ropes and pulleys and hoisted Maloo from the ice onto a slope prone to avalanches, before loading him into a helicopter bound for a nearby hospital.
—Frederick Dreier and Alan Arnette, Outside Online, 21 Apr. 2023
That team was an elegant invention being displayed at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, with gears and pulleys that hinted at a new era.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
The men’s and women’s capsule features iconic motifs such as ropes, pulleys and signal flags, which are woven into the collection.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pulley
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Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The group erected a system of ropes and pulleys and hoisted Maloo from the ice onto a slope prone to avalanches, before loading him into a helicopter bound for a nearby hospital.
—Frederick Dreier and Alan Arnette, Outside Online, 21 Apr. 2023
That team was an elegant invention being displayed at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, with gears and pulleys that hinted at a new era.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
The men’s and women’s capsule features iconic motifs such as ropes, pulleys and signal flags, which are woven into the collection.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for pulley
Cite this Entry
“Pulley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulley. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pulley
noun
pul·ley
ˈpu̇l-ē 
plural pulleys
: a small wheel with a grooved rim used with a rope or chain to change the direction of a pulling force and in combination to increase the force applied for lifting
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