The rungs on a ladder are the wooden or metal bars that form the steps.
I swung myself onto the ladder and felt for the next rung.
3. countable noun
If you reach a particular rung in your career, in an organization, or in a process, you reach that level in it.
I first worked with him in 1971 when we were both on the lowest rung of our careers. [+ of]
There has never been a better time to get on the first rung of the property ladder.
rung in British English1
(rʌŋ)
noun
1.
one of the bars or rods that form the steps of a ladder
2.
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair, etc
3. nautical
a spoke on a ship's wheel or a handle projecting from the periphery
4. dialect
a cudgel or staff
Derived forms
rungless (ˈrungless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English hrung; related to Old High German runga, Gothic hrugga
rung in British English2
(rʌŋ)
verb
the past participle of ring2
▶ USAGE See note at ring2
rung in American English1
(rʌŋ)
noun
1.
any sturdy stick, bar, or rod, esp. a rounded one, used as a crossbar, support, etc.
; specif.,
a.
any of the crosspieces constituting the steps of a ladder
b.
a supporting crosspiece, as between the legs of a chair
2.
a stage or degree in a scale, as of social acceptance
3. Scottish
a cudgel
Word origin
ME rong < OE hrung, staff, rod, pole, akin to Ger runge; for prob. IE base see ring2
rung in American English2
(rʌŋ)
verb intransitive, verb transitive
pt. of; Dialectal
ring1
Examples of 'rung' in a sentence
rung
Yet those on the bottom rungs of the publishing ladder are happy to aim lower.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
How many rungs are there on your ladder?
Al Ries and Jack Trout THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING (1993)
The rungs of that ladder could tell him exactly where he was on his journey to manhood.
Rotundo, E. Anthony American Manhood: Transformations in Masculinity from the Revolution to the ModernEra (1993)
The man at the top knows what life is like on lower rungs of the company ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But he soon learnt how to climb the rungs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Avoid standing on the top three rungs or steps.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Anything to avoid landing on the bottom rungs of the differentiation ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Products that are purchased infrequently and involve an unpleasant experience usually have very few rungs on their ladders.
Al Ries and Jack Trout THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING (1993)
And how fragile is the hold on the lower rungs of opportunity for so many people in this huge city.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He gestured Abasio to lead the way up the metal rungs protruding from the stone.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Well, that depends on how many rungs up the property ladder you are.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When greasy rungs are climbed, fat is fatal.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's those on the top rungs blowing the bubbles.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's not just those clinging onto the bottom rungs of the property ladder who are struggling.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As workers leave the lower rungs of the career ladder, others will surely take their place.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What's the maximum number of rungs on a ladder?
Al Ries and Jack Trout THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING (1993)
We're going to put more rungs in that ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anybody who loses to a fast bowler must be near the lowest rungs of society's chess ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And he insists that both managers have the experience to come through the bad times because they worked their way up from the bottom rungs.
The Sun (2009)
If women at the top look this petulant and this paranoid, think how women feel on the many rungs below.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Meanwhile the rungs at the bottom of the property ladder have become increasinglydifficult for first-time buyers to reach and ascend.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She probably is more enthusiastic and committed than you, and will rapidly climb the management ladder while you languish on the lower rungs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I had this fantasy then that I had climbed up many rungs of the ladder in one daring leap.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All related terms of 'rung'
ring
When you ring someone, you phone them.
ringbark
a circular band usually of a precious metal, esp gold , often set with gems and worn upon the finger as an adornment or as a token of engagement or marriage
outring
to exceed in ringing
ring in
If you ring in , you phone a place, such as the place where you work.
ring off
When you ring off , you put down the receiver at the end of a phone call .
ring out
If a sound rings out , it can be heard loudly and clearly .
ring up
If a shop assistant rings up a sale on a cash register, he or she presses the keys in order to record the amount that is being spent .
ring back
If you ring someone back , you phone them either because they phoned you earlier and you were not there or because you did not finish an earlier phone conversation .
ring round
If you ring round or ring around , you phone several people, usually when you are trying to organize something or to find some information .
ring fence
To ring-fence a grant or fund means to put restrictions on it, so that it can only be used for a particular purpose.