ceiling

noun

ˈsē-liŋ How to pronounce ceiling (audio)
Definition of ceilingnext
1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go there's a ceiling on prices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in roof
a raised covering over something for decoration or protection we sat around the campfire under a ceiling of stars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ceiling Between the glimpses Philon and Kusturica displayed, UCLA’s future ceiling is certainly high. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026 The inside had colorful lanterns hanging from the ceiling, warm lemon walls and Buddhist portraits on the wall. — Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026 The administration repeatedly lowered the annual refugee admissions ceiling, ultimately setting it at 15,000 for fiscal year 2021, a record low at the time. — Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 On top of the stone wall was a timber-frame skeleton supporting a stunning vaulted ceiling. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ceiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceiling
  1. limit
  2. roof
  3. limitation
  4. canopy
  5. boundary
  6. tent
  7. end
Noun
  • Marketplace premiums are expected to rise an average of 13%; subsidy limits for some immigrants and other changes could leave more people uninsured.
    — Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • But a legal dispute over specific statements must not become a warning that a billionaire’s political activity is off-limits.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • The Animal Protection headquarters were right downtown, only a couple of blocks from their building, nestled innocuously beside a Western-wear shop on whose roof a massive neon boot rotated slowly against the dark.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • This is just the latest variation on a particular theme by the architects at bKL Architecture — a tower raised above a roof deck atop a low-rise podium.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of roof
Noun
  • If successful, the work could offer defense engineers another way to overcome processing limitations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • People with osteoporosis, previous fractures or physical limitations may need guidance on appropriate movements and loads.
    — Priya Bhardwaj, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of limitation
Noun
  • Foliage grows on branches spreading out in tall canopies, while shrub growth is lower to the ground.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Main Park Road directs toward a canopy of live oaks, a cooler setting that attracts the horses and leads toward the Dungeness historic district.
    — Judith Garrison, AJC.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of canopy
Noun
  • But what if that expressionless gaze is a silent boundary — and those of us on the receiving end of the stare are the judgmental ones?
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Baby Dan tested the boundaries, Baby Dan defied his mother, Baby Dan threw tantrums and wouldn’t stop.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of boundary
Noun
  • Jackson was taken to the Ravens' medical tent and then immediately escorted to the team's locker room while wearing a towel around his entire right hand.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, police in Portugal early Sunday forcibly cleared a tent camp set up in Lisbon by activists protesting against high housing costs.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of tent
Noun
  • The nation's clocks went back an hour Sunday as daylight saving time came to an end.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • His decision to pick Vance opened up a special election in Ohio that will by the end of this week cost the GOP hundreds of millions of dollars and potentially a Senate seat.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of end

Phrases Containing ceiling

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ceilidhs
ceiling
ceilings
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Cite this Entry

“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceiling. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ceiling

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