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
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Revival, Kamikaze, Music to Be Murdered By, Curtain Call 2, and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) — have led the charge, while his Fortnight Radio soundtrack missed out on ruling by just one rung.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Morgan has been transparent about his desire to add competition to every rung of the depth chart, including the quarterback position.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rung
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Noun
For Niazi, abandoning ambition seems to have meant giving up on a career that the girlbosses of 10 years ago would have admired—one that involves climbing up the rungs of a major media company.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Revival, Kamikaze, Music to Be Murdered By, Curtain Call 2, and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) — have led the charge, while his Fortnight Radio soundtrack missed out on ruling by just one rung.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
Morgan has been transparent about his desire to add competition to every rung of the depth chart, including the quarterback position.
—Mike Kaye
updated January 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rung
Cite this Entry
“Rung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rung. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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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