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
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
At the rear of the home is a large family room that is open to the top of the second floor and has floor-to-ceiling windows that rise two stories above the rear deck to let in ample natural light.
—
James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
The floor-to-ceiling windows and the option to create several outdoor spaces, including a rooftop bar, balcony, and patios, which invite indoor-outdoor living and can nearly double hosting space and customer areas.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the wilderness like living canvases, while the perennial Sabie River flows just beyond the lodge's decks and villas.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
There’s random rough-sawn wood on the kitchen ceiling, a deer head hanging in the living room, and different styles of lighting in every room.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
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James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026
The floor-to-ceiling windows and the option to create several outdoor spaces, including a rooftop bar, balcony, and patios, which invite indoor-outdoor living and can nearly double hosting space and customer areas.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the wilderness like living canvases, while the perennial Sabie River flows just beyond the lodge's decks and villas.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
There’s random rough-sawn wood on the kitchen ceiling, a deer head hanging in the living room, and different styles of lighting in every room.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
Cite this Entry
“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceiling. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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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