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
Due to the 85,000 numerical ceiling, getting permission to sponsor a highly skilled worker is arduous.
—
Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) warned Wednesday the ceiling may hit early if tax revenues are soft.
—Stef W. Kight, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Custer said keeping five of Acero’s schools open next school year may put CPS in danger of breaching the 103% funding ceiling for charter schools placed on the district under state law, a cap the board was warned about by Alfonso Carmona, CPS’ chief portfolio officer, last week.
—Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Sweat breaks out across her skin as the ceiling seems to descend.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
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Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) warned Wednesday the ceiling may hit early if tax revenues are soft.
—Stef W. Kight, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
Custer said keeping five of Acero’s schools open next school year may put CPS in danger of breaching the 103% funding ceiling for charter schools placed on the district under state law, a cap the board was warned about by Alfonso Carmona, CPS’ chief portfolio officer, last week.
—Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Sweat breaks out across her skin as the ceiling seems to descend.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
Cite this Entry
“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceiling. Accessed 10 Mar. 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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