Meaning & use
ladder
A structure of two long side rails joined by rungs, used for climbing up or down.
See it in a sentence
He set the ladder against the roof so he could clear leaves from the gutter.
The firefighter climbed the tall ladder to rescue the cat stuck in the tree.
A note on using this word
In British English, 'ladder' also means a vertical run in tights or stockings; Americans call this a run.
Words with a similar meaning
stepladder
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A series of ascending stages or levels in an organization, career, or system.
She worked her way up the corporate ladder after a decade of steady promotions.
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