1
a
: a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair
b
: one of the crosspieces of a ladder
2
Scotland
: a heavy staff or cudgel
3
: a spoke of a wheel
4
: a level in a hierarchy
rise a few rungs on the social scale—
H. W. Van Loon
H. W. Van LoonExamples of rung in a Sentence
Noun
He was on the bottom rung on the corporate ladder.
the top rung of society
the lowest rung of the pay scale
Recent Examples on the Web
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
This growing squeeze on both the lower and middle rungs of the income ladder threatens not just economic opportunity but the basic stability of local economies.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
This feels like just the first rung in a very tall ladder.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Skyline Social & Games, which has one location near Duluth, cleared a couple of rungs on the ladder of permits and approvals this week in the hopes of bringing its second location and scores of sports leagues to the Orchard Place shopping center.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
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Noun
According to Billboard, the track’s total radio audience impressions surged by 28% from the previous frame, helping push it to the top rung.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
This growing squeeze on both the lower and middle rungs of the income ladder threatens not just economic opportunity but the basic stability of local economies.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
This feels like just the first rung in a very tall ladder.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025
Skyline Social & Games, which has one location near Duluth, cleared a couple of rungs on the ladder of permits and approvals this week in the hopes of bringing its second location and scores of sports leagues to the Orchard Place shopping center.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rung
Cite this Entry
“Rung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rung. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rung
1 of 2past participle of ring entry 3
rung
2 of 2 noun
: a rounded part placed as a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
also
: one of the crosspieces of a ladder
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