Rung — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈrəŋ/

Meaning & Definition of Rung

Rung (noun)

  1. a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair
  2. one of the crosspieces of a ladder
  3. a heavy staff or cudgel

Rung (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement

    "the greasy spoon restaurant was several rungs below the kind of establishment in which we usually dined"

    similar: degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), situation, standing, station, status, stratum
    related: condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating

  2. a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment

    "the watchman usually carried a stout oak rung"

    similar: bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, sap, shillelagh, staff, truncheon, waddy (Australian)
    related: blackjack, knobkerrie, mace, birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch, beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer, crook, crosier, walking stick, whangee

Rung (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates

    "I didn't hear the doorbell ring"

    similar: bonged, chimed, knelled, pealed, tolled
    related: chinked, clanged, clanked, clashed, clinked, ding-donged, dinged, gonged, jangled, jingled, pinged, plinked, plunked, tanged, tingled, tinkled, echoed, resonated, resounded, reverberated

Related Entry: Ring (verb)

Ring is a different word from Rung. The synonyms below are for ring, not for rung.

  1. to form a circle around

    "tall cypress trees ringing the park"

    similar: circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose, encompass, environ, gird, girdle, surround, wreathe
    related: circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall, beset, besiege, entrench, invest, swarm

  2. to travel completely around

    "the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block"

    similar: circle, circuit, circumnavigate, circumvent, compass, encircle, girdle, orbit, round
    related: circumambulate, cross, perambulate, traverse

Related Entry: Ring (verb)

Ring is a different word from Rung. The synonyms below are for ring, not for rung.

  1. to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates

    "I didn't hear the doorbell ring"

    similar: bong, chime, knell, peal, toll
    related: chink, clang, clank, clash, clink, ding, ding-dong, gong, jangle, jingle, ping, plink, plunk, tang, tingle, tinkle, echo, resonate, resound, reverberate

Related Entry: Ring (up) (verb)

Ring (up) is a different word from Rung. The synonyms below are for ring (up), not for rung.

  1. to make a telephone call to

    "our friend rang us up to see if we wanted to go to a cricket match"

    similar: call, dial, phone, telephone
    related: beep, buzz, call in, cold-call

Related Entry: Rung up (verb)

Rung up is a different word from Rung. The synonyms below are for rung up, not for rung.

  1. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "touted the many diplomatic triumphs that the president supposedly rang up in his first term"

    similar: achieved, attained, bagged, chalked up, clocked (up) (chiefly British), gained, hit, logged, made, notched (up), racked up, scored, won
    related: acquired, captured, carried, drawn, garnered, got, landed, obtained, procured, realized, secured, amounted (to), approached, equaled, matched, measured up (to), met, rivaled, tied, touched, beaten, excelled, outdone, surpassed, topped
    near: fallen short (of), missed, failed (at), lost

Related Entry: Ring up (verb)

Ring up is a different word from Rung. The synonyms below are for ring up, not for rung.

  1. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "touted the many diplomatic triumphs that the president supposedly rang up in his first term"

    similar: achieve, attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) (chiefly British), gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, score, win
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rung

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rung:

Australian: waddy
degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es), situation, standing, station, status, stratum, bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, sap, shillelagh, staff, truncheon, bonged, chimed, knelled, pealed, tolled

Related Words for Rung

condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating, blackjack, knobkerrie, mace, birch, crabstick, hickory, rattan, stave, switch, beetle, gavel, hammer, mallet, maul, sledgehammer, crook, crosier, walking stick, whangee, chinked, clanged, clanked, clashed

Origin & Etymology of Rung

Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Goth hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring ring

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Rung

get one's bell rung

Frequently Asked Questions about Rung

What does "Rung" mean?

"Rung" means a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Rung"?

Other words for "Rung" include degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, rank and ranking. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rung" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rung"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rung". Common alternatives include degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, rank, ranking, reach(es) and situation.

How do you use "Rung" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rung" in a sentence: "the greasy spoon restaurant was several rungs below the kind of establishment in which we usually dined"; "the watchman usually carried a stout oak rung"; "I didn't hear the doorbell ring".

Is "Rung" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rung" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Rung"?

"Rung" is pronounced /ˈrəŋ/.

What is the origin of the word "Rung"?

"Rung" comes from Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Goth hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring ring. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Rung" meaning "the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement"?

When "Rung" (noun) means the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement, synonyms include degree, echelon, footing, level, place and position.