ledge
Americannoun
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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:
"We have a great country. We have a country that is under a little bit of a ledge right now," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
On Sunday, a friend took the couple through their vows as they were standing on a cobblestone ledge at the foot of a waterfall on the 121-year-old Ruskin property about an hour out of Nashville.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
Tucked away in rural western Maryland, past a dead-end road cut off by railroad tracks, a stream runs cool and clear over a ledge dotted with snails.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2026
Yet collectively they suggest a frieze on an antique sarcophagus, aligned on the rosy ledge across the bottom of the painting, their heads forming a horizontal row with that of Jesus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
The actual site of the duel was a narrow ledge, about ten feet wide and forty feet long, located only twenty feet above the water.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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
He didn’t wait to put on his shirt but willed himself to climb up the ledges and start for town even though his legs were still shivering.
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 fisherman sits paddling in the stern, keeping the ledged side towards the bank and leaning over so as to cause the said ledge to be almost level with the water.
From British Borneo Sketches of Brunai, Sarawak, Labuan, and North Borneo by Treacher, W. H. (William Hood), Sir
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 Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)
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 Fairham, William
And here, at this house, we are ledged so awfully above the dawn, naked to it.
From Sea and Sardinia by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)
Each section is completely different from the others, from mushy open faces to ledging closeout barrels.
From Time Magazine Archive
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
Dee Why-The critical, sucking, ledging point break anchors Sydney's northern beaches.
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
With a climb the ledging summit Of the hill is reached in glee.
From Song-Surf by Rice, Cale Young
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.
