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
These gadgets include single or double kettlebell handles, an EZ curl bar, a straight bar, plus an optional pulley system and set of elastic resistance bands.
—
New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
The workers check and replace the large plastic bulbs on the long strings of lights and then use pulleys and hoists to hang and sometimes muscle those long strands of faceted lights onto the branches.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
The Babycatcher chewed his twig and held on to a thin rope, not much more than a string, which disappeared up into the canopy, likely connected to the pulleys and rigs and tackle that worked the biggest net down below.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
As the water current pushes against the kites, their motion drives the cable, which in turn powers generators at the pulleys to produce electricity.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pulley
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New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
The workers check and replace the large plastic bulbs on the long strings of lights and then use pulleys and hoists to hang and sometimes muscle those long strands of faceted lights onto the branches.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
The Babycatcher chewed his twig and held on to a thin rope, not much more than a string, which disappeared up into the canopy, likely connected to the pulleys and rigs and tackle that worked the biggest net down below.
—Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
As the water current pushes against the kites, their motion drives the cable, which in turn powers generators at the pulleys to produce electricity.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pulley
Cite this Entry
“Pulley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulley. Accessed 4 Nov. 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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