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
He was also charged with resisting and felony criminal mischief after causing about $1,000 worth of damage to his employer’s ceiling.
—
Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 June 2024
He was harnessed and sucked up into the ceiling, and Emma was lying in bed for that first moment.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 June 2024
The billiards room doubles as a formal office and library and is decked out with a 19th-century Ver de Mer mantel, antique lighting, glass-front bookcases, and a coffered ceiling.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 June 2024
The mansion’s original staircase was preserved along with wood ceiling beams and four fireplaces.
—Caitie Kelly Devorah Lev-Tov Zoe Ruffner Caitie Kelly Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for ceiling 
Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 June 2024
He was harnessed and sucked up into the ceiling, and Emma was lying in bed for that first moment.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 June 2024
The billiards room doubles as a formal office and library and is decked out with a 19th-century Ver de Mer mantel, antique lighting, glass-front bookcases, and a coffered ceiling.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 June 2024
The mansion’s original staircase was preserved along with wood ceiling beams and four fireplaces.
—Caitie Kelly Devorah Lev-Tov Zoe Ruffner Caitie Kelly Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 13 June 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 2 Jul. 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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