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
Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
And families on the bottom rungs of the income ladder, earning around $23,000 a year, would see an average loss of $1,600 each year, or 3.9%.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 12 June 2025
The consensus view is that his work in Paris has put him on the highest rung of the coaching ladder.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2025
Those are the details that will continue to prevent Minnesota from climbing the final couple of the rungs on the ladder until they’re corrected.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rung
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Noun
Think of your offers like a ladder: each rung leads to the next, increasing value and income with less effort over time.
5.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
And families on the bottom rungs of the income ladder, earning around $23,000 a year, would see an average loss of $1,600 each year, or 3.9%.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 12 June 2025
The consensus view is that his work in Paris has put him on the highest rung of the coaching ladder.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2025
Those are the details that will continue to prevent Minnesota from climbing the final couple of the rungs on the ladder until they’re corrected.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 31 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 17 Jun. 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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