ladder

noun

lad·​der ˈla-dər How to pronounce ladder (audio)
Synonyms of laddernext
often attributive
1
: a structure for climbing up or down that consists essentially of two long sidepieces joined at intervals by crosspieces on which one may step
2
: something that resembles or suggests a ladder in form or use
especially : run sense 11a
3
: a series of usually ascending steps or stages : scale
climbing up the corporate ladder
ladderlike
ˈla-dər-ˌlīk How to pronounce ladder (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of ladder

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Examples of ladder in a Sentence

He was moving up the corporate ladder. She worked her way up from the lowest rung on the economic ladder. She got a ladder in her stocking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ask your funding partner what that ladder looks like for your business. — Elliot Ashkenazie, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Further down the ratings ladder, investors are getting choosier and demanding higher yields to take on the risk of lending to companies in the AI sector. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026 One small disappointment was the lack of access to the loft in my deluxe studio, tucked so high under the shed roof that it was deemed unsafe to allow guests access by ladder. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 Southeast Asia is riding an investment boom, as a surge in chip exports pushes economies like Vietnam and the Philippines up the World Bank’s income ladder, as defined by the World Bank. — Sam Beltran, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ladder

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hlǣder; akin to Old High German leitara ladder, Old English hlinian to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ladder was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing ladder

Rhymes for ladder

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Browse Nearby Words

ladanum
ladder
ladder-back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladder. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ladder

noun
lad·​der ˈlad-ər How to pronounce ladder (audio)
1
: a structure for climbing that consists of two long pieces (as of wood, rope, or metal) joined at short distances by crosspieces on which one may step
2
: something that suggests a ladder in form or use
3
: a series of steps or stages : scale
the corporate ladder
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