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
This area of the property boasts 15-foot ceilings on its own.
—
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Akram fired a shot into the ceiling, an alarming act captured on camera.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025
Those teams have young quarterbacks who can be molded and haven’t hit their ceiling.
—Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Floor to ceiling glass walls showcase the Arkansas River while other spaces feature Brave’s impressionist paintings.
—Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ceiling 
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Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Akram fired a shot into the ceiling, an alarming act captured on camera.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 15 Jan. 2025
Those teams have young quarterbacks who can be molded and haven’t hit their ceiling.
—Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Floor to ceiling glass walls showcase the Arkansas River while other spaces feature Brave’s impressionist paintings.
—Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ceiling
Dictionary Entries Near ceiling
Cite this Entry
“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceiling. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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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