English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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verb

haul

hawl
verb
1
To pull or drag something heavy, often over a distance.
"They hauled the fishing nets up onto the deck."
"A truck hauled the wreckage away from the motorway."
2
Followed by "up": to call someone in to be disciplined or held to account.
"He was hauled up before the board over the missing funds."
noun
1
A quantity of something obtained or seized, especially through effort, theft, or a catch.
"The thieves got away with a huge haul of jewellery."
"It was a good day's fishing — a decent haul of mackerel."

How to Use Haul

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo physically pull something heavy, or the amount of stuff gained from an effort (a catch, loot, or prize).

Easily confused with
Common pairings
haul in haul up a big haul haul freight long haul

Word Forms

hauled past tense, hauls singular

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Fill the Gap

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They _____ the fishing nets up onto the deck.

Etymology

From Old French haler ("to pull, haul"), itself likely from a Germanic word meaning "to fetch" or "drag" — related to English "hale," as in "hale and hearty" (originally meaning to drag along robustly).

Rhymes for haul

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial