pull one's weight

verb

To contribute fairly and proportionately to a group effort; to do the work that one is obligated to.

“He isn't really pulling his weight at work.”

Similar
carry one's weight
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Meanings

verbpull one's weight (third-person singular simple present pulls one's weight, present participle pulling one's weight, simple past and past participle pulled one's weight)

present singular third person pulls one's weight · participle present pulling one's weight · participle past pulled one's weight · past pulled one's weight · alternative pull one's own weight

  1. idiomaticTo contribute fairly and proportionately to a group effort; to do the work that one is obligated to.

    He isn't really pulling his weight at work.

    1 more example

    If one shares a flat one should be prepared to pull one’s weight in cleaning it.

    Synonyms: carry one's weight

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo contribute fairly and proportionately to a group effort; to do the work that one is obligated to.

Similar
carry one's weight
Also see
carry one's weightget in the boat and row
Cite this entry
APA

pull one's weight. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20one's%20weight

MLA

“pull one's weight.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20one's%20weight. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pull one's weight,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pull%20one's%20weight.

Source: pull one's weight on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.