What does rung mean?
A rung is a horizontal bar in a ladder or staircase that supports a person’s foot. In ordinary use, the word is closely associated with ladders and climbing: someone may move up or down the rungs, or reach the top rung. It also has a figurative use in expressions such as “the lowest rung of the ladder,” where it refers to a position in a social or occupational hierarchy. Rung has a second grammatical use as the past participle of the verb ring, meaning that a bell, telephone, or similar device has sounded. The word is common in both British and American English and is neutral in tone. Its usefulness lies in the vivid ladder image it carries: a rung is not merely a component of a ladder but one of the supports that makes upward movement possible.
A horizontal bar forming a step in a ladder, staircase, or comparable structure.
"The climber carefully tested the next rung before putting his weight on it."
The plural is rungs. Figurative uses commonly refer to levels in a hierarchy or stages in progress.
The past participle of ring, meaning that a bell, telephone, or similar device has sounded.
"The alarm had rung before anyone else was awake."
This is an inflected form of ring rather than a separate present-tense verb.
The standard plural of the noun rung is rungs.
"The wooden rungs of the old ladder creaked under his weight."
A ladder’s rungs support your climb, while in the phrase “bottom rung” the word can describe a person’s place within a social hierarchy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rung come from?
The noun descends from Old English hrung, meaning a crossbar or step, and ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root associated with a bar or support. Cognate forms survive in related languages, including Dutch rung and German Rung. The separate verbal use is the past participle of ring, whose present tense has its own historical origin in Old English.
How rung is actually used
As a noun, rung is neutral in register and is especially associated with ladders, ladders metaphorically, and climbing or social advancement. As a verb form, rung is the past participle of ring and is not a standalone present-tense verb.
Easily confused with rung
A rung is a horizontal step or bar in a ladder, whereas a ring is a circular band or, as a verb, the sound made by a bell or telephone.