# ladder

/ˈɫædɝ/ (US) · /lˈædɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ladder
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. climbing equipment

noun · CEFR A2

a piece of equipment with steps (rungs) between two long poles, used for climbing up or down.

For teachers: a portable or fixed structure consisting of two parallel sidepieces joined at intervals by rungs, used for vertical ascent or descent.

- He climbed up the ladder to fix the broken tile on the roof.
- The fire department deployed an extension ladder to reach the upper-storey windows where several residents were still trapped by the smoke.

### 2. career progression

noun · CEFR B2

a series of stages that help you move up to a better job or position.

For teachers: a metaphorical series of stages or levels through which an individual may progress toward a higher status or better position.

- She worked hard for ten years to climb the corporate ladder.
- Ambitious junior associates often find that the first few rungs of the professional ladder require significant personal sacrifice and long hours.

### 3. hole in clothing

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a long thin hole or line of broken threads in a piece of clothing like tights or a sweater.

For teachers: a line of unravelled stitches in a knitted fabric, particularly in hosiery or fine knitwear.

- She was annoyed to find a ladder in her new silk stockings.
- The dancer checked her tights in the mirror, relieved to find that the small snag had not yet developed into a visible ladder.

### 4. league table

noun · CEFR B2 · Dialect

a list that shows the ranking of teams in a sports competition.

For teachers: a competitive ranking or league table showing the relative positions of teams or participants.

- After winning the match, the team moved up to third place on the ladder.
- With only three rounds remaining in the season, the local club is fighting to maintain its position at the top of the ladder.

Teaching tip: This usage is standard in Australian and New Zealand English for sports like AFL or rugby.

### 5. to develop a hole

verb · CEFR B2 · British English

when a piece of clothing gets a long thin hole in it.

For teachers: to develop a line of unravelled stitches; used intransitively of knitted garments.

- Be careful with those sharp nails or your tights will ladder.
- The delicate fabric tended to ladder easily if it caught on the rough edges of the wooden chairs.

## Examples

- He used a tall ladder to paint the ceiling.
- The fire department arrived quickly and extended a mechanical ladder to reach the top floor of the burning building.
- Ambitious employees often focus on climbing the corporate ladder, though the path to executive leadership requires more than just technical proficiency and long hours.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.