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
At first, it was just the two boys in the backseat who sat on the window ledge as it proceeded eastbound, according to Shahsavani, who estimated the pair were 12 to 14 years old.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Ice formed at the base of a ledge near him.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
The council has asked businesses in the town's centre to consider putting spikes and other deterrents on their building's front ledges.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Some tourists have resorted to hiding trash in hedges or leaving plastic bottles or cups on ledges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 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
Weeds poked up from neglected garden beds and dozens of orange sandbags sat on ledges and columns, for no apparent reason.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025
Beneath the granite ledges, Turner found two gnarled pines that begged to be shinnied up, a cave that would just about die to be explored, and mudflats where herons longed to be chased.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
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 mortar is taken up in a hod or hoisted in pails and deposited on ledged boards about 3 ft. square, placed on the scaffold at convenient distances apart along the line of work.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various
Promenaders promenaded in and out of the corridor, and up and down the corridor, and nobody troubled to glance twice either at the heavy-lipped, solitary girl or at the ledged couples.
From The Roll-Call by Arnold Bennett
Across the saucepan we ledged a sooty swivel, and on the swivel a black tin kettle which leaked slowly into the flame.
From A Poor Man's House by Stephen Sydney Reynolds
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
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
And somewhere in those ledging, pearly villages in front must be my girovago and his "wife".
From Sea and Sardinia by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
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