rope ladder
noun
: a ladder that has short pieces (called rungs) which are held between two long ropes
Examples of rope ladder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While doubling for the silent matinee idol William Desmond, stunt man Jean Perkins was killed while jumping from the top of a speeding train to grab a rope ladder dropped from a plane swooping in from above.
—
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
The pilot then climbs a rope ladder, sometimes in rough seas, to board the ship.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, had scaled the perimeter of the castle with a nylon rope ladder and was in the grounds for two hours before officers confronted him with tasers.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 19 Nov. 2024
The scene takes place 7,500 years ago and shows an individual scaling a rope ladder tied into loops precariously propped against a cliff face.
—Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
He was put on a stretcher to be lowered by ropes off the side of the ship, with Eberlein climbing down a rope ladder to join him.
—Bram Sable-Smith, CBS News, 24 May 2024
After being reached by the cruise ship, Robinson had to climb naked up a rope ladder hanging from the boat’s side, per The Times.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023
In 1965, Ronnie Biggs, a member of the gang that carried out the Great Train Robbery of 1963, scaled the prison’s wall with a rope ladder and was spirited away in a van parked outside.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Conversely, for many Medi-Cal patients, those stairs are more like a fraying rope ladder.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
The pilot then climbs a rope ladder, sometimes in rough seas, to board the ship.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, had scaled the perimeter of the castle with a nylon rope ladder and was in the grounds for two hours before officers confronted him with tasers.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 19 Nov. 2024
The scene takes place 7,500 years ago and shows an individual scaling a rope ladder tied into loops precariously propped against a cliff face.
—Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024
He was put on a stretcher to be lowered by ropes off the side of the ship, with Eberlein climbing down a rope ladder to join him.
—Bram Sable-Smith, CBS News, 24 May 2024
After being reached by the cruise ship, Robinson had to climb naked up a rope ladder hanging from the boat’s side, per The Times.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023
In 1965, Ronnie Biggs, a member of the gang that carried out the Great Train Robbery of 1963, scaled the prison’s wall with a rope ladder and was spirited away in a van parked outside.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
Conversely, for many Medi-Cal patients, those stairs are more like a fraying rope ladder.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Rope ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rope%20ladder. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share