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Meaning & use

rung of a ladder

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌrʌŋ əv ə ˈlædə/
US/ˌrʌŋ əv ə ˈlædər/

Meanings

  1. phrasecountable

    One of the horizontal bars that you step on when climbing a ladder.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a rung of a ladder' or 'the top rung of the ladder'.

    Patterns

    • the top rung of a ladder
    • the bottom rung of a ladder

    He put his foot on the bottom rung of the ladder and started to climb.

    The third rung of the ladder was broken, so we couldn't use it.

    She reached the top rung of the ladder and looked down.

  2. phrasecountablefigurative

    A stage or level in a process, career, or system, especially one that leads to success.

    Grammar: Often used with 'the first/last/next rung' in career or social contexts.

    Patterns

    • the first rung of the ladder
    • the bottom rung of the ladder
    • climb the rungs of the ladder

    She saw the job as the first rung of the ladder to a management position.

    Many people start at the bottom rung of the ladder and work their way up.

    Education is often seen as a way to move up the rungs of the ladder.

Word forms

pluralrungs of a ladder

Common combinations

top rung of the ladder
He finally reached the top rung of the ladder after years of hard work.
bottom rung of the ladder
She started at the bottom rung of the ladder in the company.
first rung of the ladder
This internship is the first rung of the ladder for many graduates.
climb the rungs of the ladder
He climbed the rungs of the ladder quickly through sheer determination.

Synonyms and how they differ

step
A step is a more general word for a flat surface you put your foot on; a rung is specifically a bar on a ladder.
stage
Stage is used for a period or level in a process; rung is more figurative and suggests a ladder-like progression.

Word family

rung noun
A single horizontal bar on a ladder.
ladder noun
A piece of equipment with rungs used for climbing.

Commonly confused: rung of a ladder or ring?

rung of a ladder vs ring

A rung is a step on a ladder; a ring is a circular band, often worn on a finger. They sound similar but mean different things.

Practice

He started his career at the bottom ___ of the ladder.

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