noun

ladder

ladder, hierarchy

He climbed up the ladder.

He climbed up the ladder.

She is climbing the corporate ladder.

She is climbing the corporate ladder.

((up/down)) a ladder to go up or down a ladder He climbed up the ladder.

the ((corporate/career)) ladder the hierarchy in a company or career She is climbing the corporate ladder.

Synonyms: steps, stepladder (physical); hierarchy, ranking (figurative)

From Old English 'hlǣder', from a Proto-Germanic root.

Imagine adding rungs to climb higher. The word 'ladder' has a double 'd' like you're adding another step.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.