rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring

rung

2 of 2

noun

ˈrəŋ 

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

Synonyms of rung

Noun

• level
• position
• rank
• echelon
• ranking
• place
• standing

Examples 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

Noun

For wood surfaces and antiques, break out a microfiber cloth—and don't forget about your windowsills, shower rungs, and shelves. —Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026

This approach isn’t particularly palatable to fans, but it is mostly accepted as a necessary mechanism for long-term roster improvement among the bottom rung of NBA teams. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

Now a junior shortstop at the heart of UCLA’s resurgence, Cholowsky occupies the most unforgiving real estate on the diamond — asked not just to steady the infield, but to restore the Bruins to the top rung of college baseball. —Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026

Choose a field, often one specific organization, move up rung by rung, and don’t look back. —Ashley Herd, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Goth hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring — more at ring

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing rung

• get/have one's bell rung
• get one's bell rung
• have one's bell rung

Rhymes for rung

• bling
• bung
• clung
• dung
• flung
• fung
• hung
• lung
• slung
• sprung
• strung
• stung

Kids Definition

rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring entry 3

rung

2 of 2 noun

ˈrəŋ 

: a rounded part placed as a crosspiece between the legs of a chair

also : one of the crosspieces of a ladder

Medical Definition

rung

past part of ring