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
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
And this kind of aspiring middle class that is trying to climb the ladder, restaurants are the place to do that.
—
Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2025
Three minutes later, Rock climbed the ladder and snipped the last strand of the net, just as Pitino had wanted.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
There’s a swim ladder for refreshing lake plunges as well as an outdoor sun deck and nooks for naps and afternoon reads.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2025
But the experience of Pittsfield and so many larger company towns is a reminder of how wrenching the disruption is when the biggest employer in town takes a big hit and the ladder rungs toward upward mobility start to crumble.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
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.
Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 17 Mar. 2025
Three minutes later, Rock climbed the ladder and snipped the last strand of the net, just as Pitino had wanted.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
There’s a swim ladder for refreshing lake plunges as well as an outdoor sun deck and nooks for naps and afternoon reads.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2025
But the experience of Pittsfield and so many larger company towns is a reminder of how wrenching the disruption is when the biggest employer in town takes a big hit and the ladder rungs toward upward mobility start to crumble.
—Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladder
Cite this Entry
“Ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladder. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share