Rung #88: FILED to BELLY — the solution

The Rung ladder from November 10, 2026: FILED to BELLY, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from FILED to BELLY. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 3 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. FILED → FILLY — the leap: E becomes L and D becomes Y, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. FILLY → BILLY — the first letter, F becomes B.
3. BILLY → BELLY — the second letter, I becomes E.

Other routes as short: FILED · FILLY · FELLY · BELLY; FILED · BILED · BILLY · BELLY.

The answer

FILED · FILLY · BILLY · BELLY — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #87 (Mon, Nov 9) · Next: Rung #89 (Wed, Nov 11) · All Rung solutions

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.