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

The anthem reaches the runner-up rung roughly a month and a half into its time on the ranking. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Doval has clearly fallen to the bottom rung of the Yankees’ bullpen ladder — and understandably so. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Leela is a Dalit, the lowest rung of Indian society, yet the man who could have made things right and promoted Leela to her rightful place in the company is Krish (Kapil Talwalkar), who sits upon the highest caste as a Brahmin. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Leaders have developed their own stealthy tests to spot high-potential employees ready to move up the next rung of the ladder. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 July 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