1
a
: the overhead inside lining of a room
The room has a high ceiling.
b
: material used to ceil a wall or roof of a room
2
: something thought of as an overhanging shelter or a lofty canopy
a ceiling of stars
3
a
: the height above the ground from which prominent objects on the ground can be seen and identified
b
: the height above the ground of the base of the lowest layer of clouds when over half of the sky is obscured
4
a
b
5
: an upper usually prescribed limit
a ceiling on prices, rents, and wages
Synonyms
Examples of ceiling in a Sentence
The house has low ceilings.
The airplane has a ceiling of 32,000 feet.
Recent Examples on the Web
The pop-up, on the third floor of Isetan’s Shinjuku location, emulates the red-and-white color palette of Tangerine’s New York boutique, accented by silver strips that usually hang from the ceiling of the department store, giving it a festive feel.
—
Gisela Williams Aileen Kwun Zoe Ruffner Gage Daughdrill Camille Sojit Pejcha Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 23 May 2024
As for the primary dwelling, a set of steps leads up to the entry door, which opens into neutral interiors boasting wide-plank oak floors, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and a wealth of windows throughout.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ceiling 
Gisela Williams Aileen Kwun Zoe Ruffner Gage Daughdrill Camille Sojit Pejcha Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 23 May 2024
As for the primary dwelling, a set of steps leads up to the entry door, which opens into neutral interiors boasting wide-plank oak floors, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and a wealth of windows throughout.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ceiling
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ceiling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ceiling
Cite this Entry
“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceiling. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ceiling
noun
ceil·ing
ˈsē-liŋ 
1
: the overhead inside lining of a room
2
: something that hangs over or is above
3
: the height above the ground of the base of the lowest layer of clouds when over half of the sky is hidden by clouds
4
: the greatest height at which an airplane can operate efficiently
5
: an upper usually prescribed limit
a ceiling on prices
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