ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check

a window ledge

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

a

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that projects from a wall of rock

We rappelled down the cliff and reached the ledge.

b

: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock

the field was full of ledge

4

: lode, vein

ledgy

ˈle-jē 

adjective

Examples of ledge in a Sentence

birds perched on the ledge of a building

a ledge on the side of the mountain

Recent Examples on the Web

Wilson and Hodges tied the knot May 10 at The Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee, during a romantic ceremony held on a cobblestone ledge in front of a waterfall. —Danielle Minnetian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026

At some point, the bats emerge en masse from that cave, flying straight toward the tour participants who are perched on the opposite ledge, and then over their heads. —Don Tse, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Fatme’s brother, Ibrahim, sat on a ledge overlooking the remains of his apartment. —Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026

Unlike the horizontal barrier installed under the deck of the Golden Gate, the local barrier would be vertical because the much taller San Diego-Coronado Bridge doesn’t have the ledges and side walkways needed to retrieve a person from a barrier. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English legge bar of a gate

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ledge

• dredge
• edge
• hedge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge
• allege
• straightedge

Kids Definition

ledge

noun

ˈlej 

1

: a projecting ridge or raised edge along a surface

2

: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore

3

: a narrow flat surface or shelf

especially : one that sticks out from a wall of rock