Rung #11: ROPE to SEEK — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 25, 2026: ROPE to SEEK, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from ROPE to SEEK. 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. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 21 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. ROPE → ROCK — the leap: P becomes C and E becomes K, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. ROCK → RECK — the second letter, O becomes E.
3. RECK → REEK — the third letter, C becomes E.
4. REEK → SEEK — the first letter, R becomes S.

Other routes as short: ROPE · ROED · REED · SEED · SEEK; ROPE · ROLE · SOLE · SELE · SEEK; ROPE · RORE · SORE · SERE · SERK · SEEK; and more.

The answer

ROPE · ROCK · RECK · REEK · SEEK — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #10 (Mon, Aug 24) · Next: Rung #12 (Wed, Aug 26)

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.