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
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The engineer’s caste was Dalit, considered to be on the lower rungs of society, which allegedly made the engineer a target for harassment and discrimination from higher-caste managers.
—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
28 June 2026
After both mayors signed the memorandum of understanding formally establishing the partnership, the men rung a replica of the bell rung when Mexico established independence.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The Kings need to add center depth and quality at every rung of the organization.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rung
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Noun
The blockbuster has failed to dominate by a single rung, and that's exactly what's happened again this time around.
—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The engineer’s caste was Dalit, considered to be on the lower rungs of society, which allegedly made the engineer a target for harassment and discrimination from higher-caste managers.
—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
28 June 2026
After both mayors signed the memorandum of understanding formally establishing the partnership, the men rung a replica of the bell rung when Mexico established independence.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The Kings need to add center depth and quality at every rung of the organization.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rung
Cite this Entry
“Rung.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rung. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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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