Rung #4: RUSH to GREW — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 18, 2026: RUSH to GREW, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from RUSH to GREW. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — so it cannot be beaten. Without the leap the shortest climb is 7 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 25 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. RUSH → GUSH — the first letter, R becomes G.
2. GUSH → GUST — the fourth letter, H becomes T.
3. GUST → GROT — the leap: U becomes R and S becomes O, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. GROT → GROW — the fourth letter, T becomes W.
5. GROW → GREW — the third letter, O becomes E.

Other routes as short: RUSH · RUST · GUST · GROT · GROW · GREW; RUSH · DUSH · DUST · DUET · DREW · GREW; RUSH · RUST · DUST · DUET · DREW · GREW; and more.

The answer

RUSH · GUSH · GUST · GROT · GROW · GREW — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

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About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters that day, five now, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.