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 → BUSH — the first letter, R becomes B.
2. BUSH → BUSY — the fourth letter, H becomes Y.
3. BUSY → BREY — the leap: U becomes R and S becomes E, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. BREY → BREW — the fourth letter, Y becomes W.
5. BREW → GREW — the first letter, B becomes G.

Other routes as short: RUSH · BUSH · BUSY · BREY · GREY · GREW; RUSH · DUSH · DUSK · DREK · DREW · GREW; RUSH · RUSK · DUSK · DREK · DREW · GREW; and more.

The answer

RUSH · BUSH · BUSY · BREY · BREW · GREW — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #3 (Mon, Aug 17) · Next: Rung #5 (Wed, Aug 19)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, 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. How to play Rung, or play today’s.