rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring

rung

2 of 2

noun

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 scaleH. W. Van Loon

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
That’s why many people skip the EDP altogether and jump right on up to the next rung: The parfums and extraits. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 With a complex array of factors contributing to this broken rung, there is no ‘one and done’ solution to repairing it. Dr Margie Warrell, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 But as a last rung, IPM allows the use of pesticides. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Property prices on Seven Mile Drive range from $1.4 to $2.5 million, Burchell said, a rung down from the sweeping $2.5 to $3.5 million estate homes on Sawgrass Island. Jack Bantock, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Although the route doesn’t have all the elements of most via ferratas—no ladders to climb or rungs to monkey around on—the narrow 600-foot crossing, with its bird’s eye view of more than half a dozen hanging glaciers and the lush Chugach temperate rainforest, still requires climbing safety gear. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 Just one rung below that album comes another that features Marley’s music. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 And the passion for a rebuild rung deep in Henderson’s voice, describing bringing his #DAWGwork slogan to USC, the DAWG being an acronym: discipline, attitude, work ethic, grit. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 15 Feb. 2024 The changes would also loosen rules for single-room-occupancy hotels, which city officials call the lowest rung on the housing ladder above homelessness. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rung.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rung was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rung

Cite this Entry

“Rung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rung. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rung

1 of 2

past 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

Medical Definition

rung

past part of ring

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