ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check

a window ledge

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

a

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that projects from a wall of rock

We rappelled down the cliff and reached the ledge.

b

: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock

the field was full of ledge

4

: lode, vein

ledgy

ˈle-jē 

adjective

Examples of ledge in a Sentence

birds perched on the ledge of a building

a ledge on the side of the mountain

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a huge bowl filled with goldfish on a window ledge in the staircase, more like a party decoration, not an aquarium. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025

One stranded himself on a snow ledge roughly 100 feet below the ridge crest, with another 800 feet of exposure below. —Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025

One was about 100 feet below the other on a ledge above a 1,000-foot drop. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2025

Rather than small, hidden petroglyphs, these panels covered giant cliff faces that stretched up to 39 meters (128 ft) in height – something that would have required adventurous artists to scale narrow ledges to leave their mark. —New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English legge bar of a gate

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ledge

• dredge
• edge
• hedge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a projecting ridge or raised edge along a surface

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that sticks out from a wall of rock