rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring

rung

2 of 2

noun

ˈrəŋ 

1

a

: a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair

b

: one of the crosspieces of a ladder

2

Scotland : a heavy staff or cudgel

3

: a spoke of a wheel

4

: a level in a hierarchy

rise a few rungs on the social scale

—H. W. Van Loon

Synonyms

Noun

• degree
• echelon
• footing
• level
• place
• position
• rank
• ranking
• reach(es)
• situation
• standing
• station
• status
• stratum

Examples of rung in a Sentence

Noun

He was on the bottom rung on the corporate ladder.

the top rung of society

the lowest rung of the pay scale

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Michele opts to take a beat and organize all her rungs by size, while Olivia doesn’t want to waste any time and relies on trial and error. —Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024

Newsom has spent half of his 57 years climbing up the political ladder, one rung at a time. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

The new cut debuts in the runner-up rung on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

The Tortured Poets Department lifts a few rungs to make a home at No. 8. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Goth hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring — more at ring

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing rung

• get/have one's bell rung

Kids Definition

rung

1 of 2

past participle of ring entry 3

rung

2 of 2 noun

ˈrəŋ 

: a rounded part placed as a crosspiece between the legs of a chair

also : one of the crosspieces of a ladder

Medical Definition

rung

past part of ring