Haul
/hɔːl/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a verb, haul means to pull or drag something, usually something heavy or difficult to move. As a noun, haul means the amount of goods or items that someone has moved, carried, or taken, often in one trip.
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See It in Action
Verb: To pull or drag something heavy or difficult to move
- •They had to haul the broken car out of the mud.
- •The workers hauled the boxes into the warehouse.
- •She hauled the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
Noun: The amount of goods or items taken or moved at one time
- •The fishermen showed off their haul of fresh fish.
- •After the sale, they had a big haul of new clothes.
- •The truck delivered a haul of supplies to the store.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "haul" like "carry," but with more effort and usually for heavy or big things
- ✓Picture a strong person pulling a big bag or a boat on land slowly but steadily
- ✓It's the feeling when you try hard to move something heavy, like dragging a big box up stairs
- ✓Sounds like "hall" → imagine carrying a heavy load through a long hallway, needing strength to get it done
- ✓Think of fishermen bringing in a big haul of fish after a long day at sea
- ✓NOT like "lift" (just picking up something), "haul" means moving it over some distance with effort
- ✓NOT like "push" (using force forward), "haul" usually means pulling or dragging toward you
- ✓NOT like "carry" (can be light or easy), "haul" means heavy or difficult carrying
- ✓NOT like "steal" (taking without permission), "haul" is about moving or bringing goods, not stealing
Try Other Words
- •Drag: to pull something along the ground (Use when emphasizing pulling on the ground with effort)
- •Tug: to pull something suddenly or with short strong pulls (Use for quick, strong pulls rather than long effort)
- •Transport: to move goods or people from one place to another (Use when focusing on moving things, not necessarily by pulling)
- •Carry: to hold and move something (Use when the object is lighter or movement is easier)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: The word "haul" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "halian," meaning to pull or drag
- •Historical development: Used since early English to describe pulling or dragging heavy things over distance
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for moving heavy objects, goods, or large amounts, both physically and sometimes figuratively (like a "haul" of money or items bought)
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things in your life do you think require a haul rather than just a carry?
•How does the idea of a "haul" change when you think about physical objects versus collections of items or achievements?
Fill in the blanks
1.They had to haul the ___ up the hill because it was too heavy to carry.
2.After a long day, the fishermen were proud of their ___ of fish.
3.When you haul something, you usually need a lot of ___ and strength.
4.Unlike just carrying, to haul means to move something with ___ effort over some distance.
5.The truck made one big haul of supplies, so they didn't have to ___ many trips.
6.People often haul goods using carts or trucks because the items are too ___ to carry by hand.
7.The workers hauled the boxes ___ the warehouse carefully to avoid damage.