ladder

noun

lad·​der ˈla-dər 

often attributive

1

: a structure for climbing up or down that consists essentially of two long sidepieces joined at intervals by crosspieces on which one may step

2

: something that resembles or suggests a ladder in form or use

especially : run sense 11a

3

: a series of usually ascending steps or stages : scale

climbing up the corporate ladder

ladderlike

ˈla-dər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• graduation
• hierarchy
• ordering
• ranking
• scale

Examples of ladder in a Sentence

He was moving up the corporate ladder.

She worked her way up from the lowest rung on the economic ladder.

She got a ladder in her stocking.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sofia exists in a parallel to Farrell’s Penguin, as an outsider with the odds stacked against them, an underdog who manages to climb the ladder through ruthless acts of violence. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Next up the ladder is the $4.99 monthly SoundCloud Go plan, which grants ad-free and offline listening. —PCMAG, 28 Oct. 2024

Playing as characters like a MAGA grandma, a QAnon shaman, or a pink-haired rockstar, participants work their way around the board collecting ballots, aiming to get enough to make it up the golden ladder to join Donald Trump on his helicopter. —Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2024

Despite working their way up the corporate ladder for the best part of three decades, new research says that Gen Xers are having to turn to second (and sometimes third) jobs to make ends meet. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hlǣder; akin to Old High German leitara ladder, Old English hlinian to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ladder

• accommodation ladder
• aerial ladder
• career ladder
• corporate ladder
• fish ladder
• hook and ladder truck
• Jacob's ladder
• ladder-back
• ladder truck
• rope ladder

Kids Definition

ladder

noun

lad·​der ˈlad-ər 

1

: a structure for climbing that consists of two long pieces (as of wood, rope, or metal) joined at short distances by crosspieces on which one may step

2

: something that suggests a ladder in form or use

3

: a series of steps or stages : scale

the corporate ladder