What is a Word Ladder?
The classic "word ladder" is a 150-year-old puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll: change one letter at a time to turn one word into another. Ours is the semantic version — instead of letters, each step moves to a word close in meaning, until two seemingly unrelated words are connected. Linguists noticed long ago that almost any two common words can be linked in just four to seven meaning-steps. That is exactly where the fun lives.
How to play
- Note the start word and the target word.
- Pick from the related words offered — arrow up (↗) means closer to the target, down (↘) means farther.
- Move step by step until you reach the target.
- The closer your step count is to par, the cleaner the run.
Want the basics first? See how to play. Curious about alternatives? See games like Contexto.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play Word Ladder?
You get a start word and a target word. Each step, the game shows a batch of words related in meaning to your current word — you pick one and move closer to the target. A small arrow next to each option tells you whether it is closer to or farther from the target. Reach the target in as few steps as possible to win.
Why can I only pick, not type my own word?
Because picking is far friendlier than recalling. Every option offered is already close in meaning to your current word, so you never fight the "the game doesn’t know my word" problem — you just judge which direction gets closer to the target. Easy and strategic at once.
What does "par" mean?
Par is the length of one fairly short path that exists for this puzzle. Reaching the target in par steps or fewer is a clean run; taking a few more is fine too — you still win, you just took a detour.
How is this different from a normal word-guessing game?
A normal game has you guess one hidden word. A ladder isn’t about guessing a word — it’s about walking a path, connecting two seemingly unrelated words through a chain of related ones. It tests association and route-finding, not just closing in on one answer.
Is there a new puzzle every day?
Yes. A fresh "daily ladder" rolls over automatically each day. Finished today’s and want more? You can replay to sharpen your instinct.