Past tense of climb; moved upward using hands and feet, or gradually increased in amount, level, or intensity. Can refer to physical ascent or metaphorical progress.
From Old English 'climban' of Germanic origin, related to 'cleave' and originally meaning to stick or adhere. The sense evolved from clinging to surfaces to actively moving upward by the 12th century.
Humans are surprisingly good climbers compared to other primates our size, partly because our ancestors likely lived in environments requiring both tree climbing and ground travel. The phrase 'climbed the ladder' reflecting career advancement shows how deeply ingrained vertical metaphors are in our thinking about success.
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