ledge

1 of 2

noun

ˈlej How to pronounce ledge (audio)
1
: a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check
a window ledge
2
: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore
3
a
: a narrow flat surface or shelf
especially : one that projects from a wall of rock
We rappelled down the cliff and reached the ledge.
b
: rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock
the field was full of ledge
4
: lode, vein
ledgy
ˈle-jē How to pronounce ledge (audio)
adjective

ledgy

2 of 2

adjective

-jē How to pronounce ledgy (audio)
-er/-est
: abounding in ledges : consisting of a ledge or reef
fields are ledgy in places—E. B. White

Examples of ledge in a Sentence

Noun birds perched on the ledge of a building a ledge on the side of the mountain
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.
Noun
Pool toys were strewn about on the ledge. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 26 June 2026 One fan tried to climb onto a ledge above the crowd. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026 Search and rescue was called in to help rappel the women from the narrow ledges. — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 18 June 2026 Arabian red foxes—commonly found in the emirate—occasionally appear against a stone ledge outside the windows. — Mona Basharat, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ledge

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English legge bar of a gate

First Known Use

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ledge was in 1535

Rhymes for ledge

See All Rhymes for ledge

Browse Nearby Words

led farm
ledge
ledged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ledge. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

ledge

noun
ˈlej How to pronounce ledge (audio)
1
: a projecting ridge or raised edge along a surface
2
: an underwater ridge or reef especially near the shore
3
: a narrow flat surface or shelf
especially : one that sticks out from a wall of rock

More from Merriam-Webster on ledge

Nglish: Translation of ledge for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All