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
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
Unless the first-year club maintains the surprising cohesion that took it up the 15-team ladder, bigger successes won’t be coming.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Between life, family and self-discovery, career paths are more likely to resemble a climbing wall than a ladder.
—Melissa Dimuro, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
As her family played nearby under a refreshing spray from a fire truck ladder, Sciackitano reflected on what the day meant to her.
—Kaitlin Mikrut, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Jannik Sinner was just starting his climb up the tennis ladder; Novak Djokovic was about to launch his decisive overtake of the greats who came before him.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
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Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Between life, family and self-discovery, career paths are more likely to resemble a climbing wall than a ladder.
—Melissa Dimuro, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
As her family played nearby under a refreshing spray from a fire truck ladder, Sciackitano reflected on what the day meant to her.
—Kaitlin Mikrut, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Jannik Sinner was just starting his climb up the tennis ladder; Novak Djokovic was about to launch his decisive overtake of the greats who came before him.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
Cite this Entry
“Ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladder. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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