ladder

[ˈlædər]

ladder Definition

  • 1a piece of equipment consisting of two vertical bars or pieces of rope joined at the top and bottom, with a series of horizontal bars or rungs connecting them, used for climbing up or down something
  • 2a series of ascending stages by which someone may progress to a higher level of authority, status, or income

Using ladder: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ladder" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    He climbed up the ladder to reach the roof.

  • Example

    She used a ladder to pick apples from the tree.

  • Example

    The company has a clear career ladder for its employees.

  • Example

    He started as an intern and worked his way up the corporate ladder.

ladder Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using ladder

  • to gradually progress to a higher level of authority, status, or income

    Example

    She worked hard to climb the ladder in her company.

  • the highest level of authority, status, or income

    Example

    He reached the top of the ladder in his field after years of hard work.

  • to remove support or opportunities from someone who is trying to progress

    Example

    He felt like his boss had kicked the ladder out from under him when he didn't get the promotion.

Phrases with ladder

  • a sewing technique used to join two pieces of fabric together invisibly

    Example

    She used a ladder stitch to hem the dress.

  • a type of professional wrestling match where the winner must climb a ladder to retrieve a prize suspended above the ring

    Example

    The ladder match at WrestleMania was one of the most exciting matches of the night.

  • a programming language used to program industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs)

    Example

    He used ladder logic to program the assembly line.

Origins of ladder

from Old English 'hlǣder'

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Summary: ladder in Brief

A 'ladder' [ˈlædər] is a piece of equipment used for climbing up or down something, consisting of two vertical bars or pieces of rope joined by horizontal bars or rungs. It can also refer to a series of stages by which someone may progress to a higher level of authority, status, or income. Examples include 'He climbed up the ladder to reach the roof.' and 'The company has a clear career ladder for its employees.' Idioms like 'climb the ladder' denote gradual progress, while 'kick the ladder out from under someone' implies removing support or opportunities.

How do native speakers use this expression?