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, 16 May 2025
In one photo, a group of homeowners tossed their mortgage papers into a fire, a celebration for climbing another rung on the ladder of upward mobility.
—Houston Cofield, New York Times, 14 May 2025
People who ingested the substance were at the highest level of society, people who witnessed and participated may have been a rung lower, and people who were left were among the lowest.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2025
Simply making a full return to the sport that has been her life is the bottom rung of Haidar’s ambitions.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 2 May 2025
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Noun
The early-career win leaps four rungs to No. 33 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, which ranks the bestselling titles in those styles alone.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
In one photo, a group of homeowners tossed their mortgage papers into a fire, a celebration for climbing another rung on the ladder of upward mobility.
—Houston Cofield, New York Times, 14 May 2025
People who ingested the substance were at the highest level of society, people who witnessed and participated may have been a rung lower, and people who were left were among the lowest.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2025
Simply making a full return to the sport that has been her life is the bottom rung of Haidar’s ambitions.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 2 May 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 29 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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