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
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
The all-electric vehicles are equipped with shotguns, shields and ladders and additional battery capacity to better handle the demands of a police department, McMahill said.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
The manager and infielder, who climbed the same baseball ladder from the Gulf Coast League to Game 7, held for an eternity.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The Native campers do not come with a ladder but should be easy enough to high-step into or access via small step ladder, stool, or even a sturdy cargo box or cooler.
—New Atlas, 31 Oct. 2025
The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
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Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2025
The manager and infielder, who climbed the same baseball ladder from the Gulf Coast League to Game 7, held for an eternity.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The Native campers do not come with a ladder but should be easy enough to high-step into or access via small step ladder, stool, or even a sturdy cargo box or cooler.
—New Atlas, 31 Oct. 2025
The contestants then had to compete in a physically taxing challenge that involved pushing a heavy cart along a bumpy path, stacking sand bags, climbing ladders, knocking discs off poles, and then finally knocking down four bamboo targets.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
Cite this Entry
“Ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladder. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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