verb
Common
haul
hawl
Haul (verb) means to pull or drag something heavy, often over a distance. Example: “They hauled the fishing nets up onto the deck.”
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."
"We had to haul the heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs."
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."
"The headteacher hauled the boys up for painting on the school wall."
"She was hauled up in front of her manager to explain the mistake."
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."
"The children came back from the beach with a surprising haul of shells."
How to use haul
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- hauls
- Past tense
- hauled
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Can you complete this real example?
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).
Related words
Rhymes for haul
See all rhymes for haul →Frequently asked questions
What does “haul” mean?
The word “haul” means to pull or drag something heavy, often over a distance. In plain terms, to physically pull something heavy, or the amount of stuff gained from an effort (a catch, loot, or prize).
How do you pronounce “haul”?
“Haul” is pronounced hawl (/hɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “haul” in a sentence?
Here is “haul” used in a sentence: “They hauled the fishing nets up onto the deck.”
What part of speech is “haul”?
Depending on how it is used, “haul” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “haul” come from?
The word “haul” comes from Old French. 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).
Is “haul” a common word?
“Haul” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “haul” have?
“Haul” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pull or drag something heavy, often over a distance.
What is the difference between "haul" and "hall"?
These are homophones that sound the same but differ in spelling and meaning. "Haul," with "au," means to pull or drag something heavy, or a quantity of goods obtained or seized. "Hall," with two "l"s, is a large room, corridor, or entrance area of a building.
What is the difference between "haul" and "carry"?
To haul something is to pull or drag it, usually because it is heavy and requires effort, often over a distance. To carry is to hold and move something, typically by lifting it off the ground. Hauling stresses dragging and strain, while carrying stresses supporting the object's weight.
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