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
Across from them are blue floor-to-ceiling cabinets with outlets for the family’s Dyson vacuum and a charging station for other appliances.
—
Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The gourmet kitchen has inset cabinetry, beam ceilings, an expansive island, a professional six-burner dual-oven range, dual dishwashers and a custom pizza oven.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Atlantic, and the menu leaned heavily on fresh, local seafood.
—Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Referring to the sacks, Straughter recently showed visitors a cotton pick sack suspended from the gallery’s tall ceiling.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
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Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The gourmet kitchen has inset cabinetry, beam ceilings, an expansive island, a professional six-burner dual-oven range, dual dishwashers and a custom pizza oven.
—Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Atlantic, and the menu leaned heavily on fresh, local seafood.
—Lisa A. Beach, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Referring to the sacks, Straughter recently showed visitors a cotton pick sack suspended from the gallery’s tall ceiling.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 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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