ladder

noun

lad·​der ˈla-dər 

often attributive

1

: a structure for climbing up or down that consists essentially of two long sidepieces joined at intervals by crosspieces on which one may step

2

: something that resembles or suggests a ladder in form or use

especially : run sense 11a

3

: a series of usually ascending steps or stages : scale

climbing up the corporate ladder

ladderlike

ˈla-dər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms of ladder

• hierarchy
• ranking
• scale

Examples of ladder in a Sentence

He was moving up the corporate ladder.

She worked her way up from the lowest rung on the economic ladder.

She got a ladder in her stocking.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sweet-Haus Tiny Cabin Company Finally, a wooden ladder leads up from the kitchen into another bedroom, which is a typical tiny house loft with a low ceiling. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

The story centers on Darrow, a young miner who is a Red, the lowest on the ladder and a people who exist to do hard labor. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Success can send candidates scrambling up the ladder of opportunity, but failure can consign them to never climbing it at all. — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Satya Nadella spent more than two decades climbing the ladder at Microsoft before becoming CEO in 2014. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hlǣder; akin to Old High German leitara ladder, Old English hlinian to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ladder

• accommodation ladder
• aerial ladder
• career ladder
• corporate ladder
• fish ladder
• hook and ladder truck
• Jacob's ladder
• ladder-back
• ladder truck
• rope ladder

Rhymes for ladder

• adder
• bladder
• madder
• sadder
• gallbladder
• stepladder

Kids Definition

ladder

noun

lad·​der ˈlad-ər 

1

: a structure for climbing that consists of two long pieces (as of wood, rope, or metal) joined at short distances by crosspieces on which one may step

2

: something that suggests a ladder in form or use

3

: a series of steps or stages : scale

the corporate ladder