What is haul? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of haul in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of haul

haulverb

lôi

/hɔːl//hɔːl/

Where does the word haul come from?

The word "haul" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The modern English word "haul" comes from the Old English word "hāl," which meant "to pull" or "to drag." This Old English word is also related to the Germanic word "hullen," which means "to pull" or "to haul." In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), the word "haul" took on the meaning "to pull or draw something along" or "to pull in a rope or chain." Over time, the word's connotation expanded to include the idea of forcibly removing or carrying something away, such as pulling a heavy load or hauling away trash. Today, the word "haul" can be used in various contexts, including physics (i.e., the hauled-in net) and informal language (i.e., "I'm hauling grit on the road"). Despite its evolution, the word's core meaning remains rooted in the concept of pulling or drawing something along.

Vocabulary summary haul

typenoun

meaningtug; tow path

exampleto haul at a rope

meaning(mining) push

meaningfreight (by truck); freight volume

exampleto haul upon the wind

typetransitive verb

meaningpull

exampleto haul at a rope

meaning(mining) push (coal cart)

meaningtransport (goods... by truck)

exampleto haul upon the wind

Example of vocabulary haulnamespace

meaning

to pull something/somebody with a lot of effort

  • The wagons were hauled by horses.
  • He reached down and hauled Liz up onto the wall.
  • The car was hauled out of the river.
  • fishermen hauling in their nets
meaning

to move yourself somewhere slowly and with a lot of effort

  • She hauled herself out of bed.
  • He hauled himself up.
meaning

to force somebody to go somewhere they do not want to go

  • A number of suspects have been hauled in for questioning.
  • He was hauled off to jail.
meaning

to make somebody appear in court in order to be judged

  • He was hauled up before the local magistrates for dangerous driving.

Idioms of vocabulary haul

haul somebody over the coals
to criticize somebody severely because they have done something wrong
  • I was hauled over the coals by my boss for being late.

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