Word
rung
US/ˈɹəŋ/
UK/ɹˈʌŋ/
Definitions
01ladder step
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. one of the horizontal bars that you step on when climbing a ladder.
n. a horizontal crosspiece forming a step of a ladder.
Español:peldaño
“He climbed carefully, making sure his foot was firm on each rung.”
“The wooden ladder was so old that the bottom rung snapped under the weight of the heavy equipment.”
02level in a hierarchy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a position or level in a system, like a job or social group.
n. a specific level or stage within a hierarchical structure, such as a career path or social class.
“Starting as an intern is the first rung on the career ladder.”
“She spent ten years working her way up to the highest rung of the corporate hierarchy.”
Usage
Often used figuratively with 'the' and 'of' to describe progress in a career or social hierarchy.
Real-World Examples
“He had rung his sister's number after she had texted, urgently asking him to call.” “Trish Murray says other worrying studies should have rung alarm bells.” Etymology
From Middle English rung, from Old English hrung, from Proto-West Germanic hrungu, from Proto-Germanic hrungō. Cognate with Dutch rong (“pole, stanchion”), German Runge (“stake, pole, stanchion”), Gothic 𐌷𐍂𐌿𐌲𐌲𐌰 (hrugga, “a staff”).
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/rung
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0