ledge
Americannoun
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ledges
plural
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a relatively narrow, projecting part, as a horizontal, shelflike projection on a wall or a raised edge on a tray.
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a more or less flat shelf of rock protruding from a cliff or slope.
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a reef, ridge, or line of rocks in the sea or other body of water.
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Mining.
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a layer or mass of rock underground.
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a lode or vein.
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Carpentry. a member similar to but larger than a cleat.
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Shipbuilding. a minor transverse deck beam running between regular deck beams to form part of a coaming.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a narrow horizontal surface resembling a shelf and projecting from a wall, window, etc
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a layer of rock that contains an ore; vein
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a ridge of rock that lies beneath the surface of the sea
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a narrow shelflike rock projection on a cliff or mountain
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ledge
1300–50; Middle English legge, perhaps derivative of leggen to lay 1; compare Middle High German legge layer, edge, Old English lecg part of a weapon
Explanation
A ledge is a flat, narrow surface or shelf. As you climb a steep mountain, you might find a flat spot sticking out from the cliff — that's an example of a ledge. The word ledge comes from the Old English lædge, which means "a shelf or projection." A ledge can appear in many places, from natural rock formations to man-made structures like buildings and bridges. Windows usually have ledges, and people may display artwork and knickknacks on wall ledges in their homes. Underwater ledges may be formed by reefs or a line of submerged rocks.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Between the homes, a freeform pool curves through natural rock, hiding a grotto and a slide, with a shallow ledge for lounging and an elevated spa,” according to the listing.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Soon after Cindy’s feeder made its debut, a raccoon arrived, made himself at home on the ledge, and helped himself to some sunflower seeds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Borrow a few inches from the precarious ledge beside the table.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
The two men had to wait on a ledge for hours until they could be found, then had to leave the mountain without their mate.
From BBC ● May 26, 2026
Without a word Dad sits down on the ledge we’ve been digging.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Santa Monica resident Rojia Shahsavani said she witnessed three boys taking selfies and sitting on the open window ledges of a white Waymo that traveled from Santa Monica into West L.A. last Friday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
And instead of nailing my art to the walls, I had multiple ledges installed that allow me to move pieces around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
In the covered outdoor corridors, Irhil and the other families have appropriated the space, setting up planters on ledges, a dish-washing station in a classroom sink, and clotheslines between the columns.
From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025
One panel would have required ancient artists to climb and work precariously on narrow ledges, underscoring the sheer effort and significance of the imagery.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2025
There were no cakes set out on window ledges, either, but Lazlo had never really expected that.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Black bass are good with several ten plus pound fish happening every week found in creek beds, points, and ledged drops.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 22, 2020
The swirling water went round and round under the fall, with lines of white bubbles rising, and quivering masses of yellowish foam ledged on the red rootlets under the bank and against the flags.
From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Richard Jefferies
It is used for nailing on framing to form partitions for rooms, offices, etc., for panelling corridors, etc., and for making framed and ledged doors, building tool houses, cycle sheds and other outhouses.
From Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. by William Fairham
The road came gently winding up to us, from what was evidently two villages ledged one above the other upon the steep summit of the south slope.
From Sea and Sardinia by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Ah, dark garden, dark garden, with your olives and your wine, your medlars and mulberries and many almond trees, your steep terraces ledged high up above the sea, I am leaving you, slinking out.
From Sea and Sardinia by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Breaks best: May-September Type of wave: A surreal, ledging left that looks more like an avalanche or a tidal wave than anything you'd think was surfable.
From Time Magazine Archive
Each section is completely different from the others, from mushy open faces to ledging closeout barrels.
From Time Magazine Archive
We ran 300 yards down the road to find a ledging, overhead shelf throwing onto a shallow rock bed.
From Time Magazine Archive
Dee Why-The critical, sucking, ledging point break anchors Sydney's northern beaches.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Dash it!" he said, first fumbling in one waistcoat pocket, and then ledging the portfolio against a step and fumbling in both waistcoat pockets simultaneously.
From The Roll-Call by Arnold Bennett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
