ladder rungs

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The horizontal bars or steps that you stand on when climbing a ladder.

   Grammar: Countable noun in the plural; one step is "a rung" or "a ladder rung".

   Patterns

   • climb the ladder rungs
   • a missing rung
   • grip the rungs

   Check that all the ladder rungs are dry before you climb.

   One of the ladder rungs was bent, so he refused to use it.

   She gripped the ladder rungs tightly as the wind picked up.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   Steps or stages on the way to a higher position or level, used figuratively.

   Grammar: Used in figurative phrases about progress; often with "the bottom" or "the top".

   Patterns

   • the bottom rungs of something
   • climb the rungs of something

   He started at the bottom rungs of the company and worked his way up.

   Education is seen as one of the ladder rungs to a better life.

Word forms

Common combinations

climb the rungs

The children were told not to climb the rungs with muddy shoes.

a missing rung

A missing rung makes the whole ladder unsafe.

the bottom rungs

Many workers begin on the bottom rungs of the industry.

grip the rungs

Grip the rungs with both hands when you go up.

metal rungs

The metal rungs were slippery in the rain.

Synonyms and how they differ

steps

Steps are the flat parts of a stepladder or staircase; rungs are the round bars of a ladder.

bars

Bars is a general word for the horizontal pieces; "rungs" is the specific term for a ladder.

Word family

rung noun

One horizontal step of a ladder.

ladder noun

A piece of equipment with two long sides and rungs, used for climbing.

Commonly confused: ladder rungs or ring? ladder rungs or rung?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “ladder rungs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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