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
H. W. Van LoonExamples 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
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
In a series of departures announced in a matter of weeks, the agency’s entire top rung is set to turn over as Brian Quintenz, President Trump’s nominee for CFTC chair, prepares to take the reins.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 28 May 2025
Ashiq Hussain turned around backward in the window of his third-floor Sunset Park apartment and, with help from an FDNY member on the ladder, placed his left foot onto the top rung as smoke spewed around him.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
Many top-decile households can drop to lower rungs of the ladder after business or investment setbacks.
—Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rung
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Noun
Young has said that his intention has always been to help people, especially those on the lowest rungs of society’s ladder, who are overlooked by others.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
In a series of departures announced in a matter of weeks, the agency’s entire top rung is set to turn over as Brian Quintenz, President Trump’s nominee for CFTC chair, prepares to take the reins.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 28 May 2025
Ashiq Hussain turned around backward in the window of his third-floor Sunset Park apartment and, with help from an FDNY member on the ladder, placed his left foot onto the top rung as smoke spewed around him.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
Many top-decile households can drop to lower rungs of the ladder after business or investment setbacks.
—Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rung
Cite this Entry
“Rung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rung. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rung
1 of 2past participle of ring entry 3
rung
2 of 2 noun
: a rounded part placed as a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
also
: one of the crosspieces of a ladder
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