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
One homeowner desired to hang a $3 million car from the living room ceiling; Ippolito delivered.
—
Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2025
Other indoor amenities include a wooden study with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a finished basement for casual hangs, and a sauna.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Dec. 2025
The weather service counts days where 50% or more of daylight hours had cloud ceilings of 3,000 feet or below without precipitation.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Press the dumbbells upward by fully extending your arms up toward the ceiling.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceiling
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Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2025
Other indoor amenities include a wooden study with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a finished basement for casual hangs, and a sauna.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 17 Dec. 2025
The weather service counts days where 50% or more of daylight hours had cloud ceilings of 3,000 feet or below without precipitation.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Press the dumbbells upward by fully extending your arms up toward the ceiling.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 16 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 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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