rung

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

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

Examples of rung in a Sentence

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

The new frame is something closer to depth—roots, not rungs. —Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

The Dow rung in its special day with a pullback in Tuesday's session. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 May 2026

The developmental tournaments and lower rungs of the tours, where players build up match toughness, rankings points and the skills that clay teaches — movement, defense, patience, forecourt awareness — are played on it, too. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 May 2026

Criminals operating at different rungs of the ladder dominate the only real sources of money. —Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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