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

Relevance
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 If a kid’s activity, date, hobby, or creative plan nudges the budget, set a clear ceiling first. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 There was buildup on the wall underneath the chlorine dish machine, as well as dust on the ceiling vents inside the men’s and women’s restrooms. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026 The secondary loft is reached by a removable ladder that's stowed in the living room ceiling when not in use. — Adam Williams july 17, New Atlas, 17 July 2026 The loft-like one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo with $809 monthly HOAs, spanning just over 1,000 square feet, features a barrel-vault ceiling designed by Weese himself. — Rachel Freundt, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 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
  • Gas stations across Russia are imposing limits on purchases, CNN’s analysis found, with fuel- tracking websites popping up to guide drivers to the best spots to fill up.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • People who were enrolled in graduate school and received a federal loan before July 1 will not face the new limits, according to the Education Department.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Martinez acknowledges hiring a crew to repair her wood-frame roof.
    — Larry Seward, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The Roof While the roof may seem like the obvious place for storm leaks, the problem usually isn’t the shingles themselves.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026
Definition of roof
Noun
  • The team has filed a provisional patent for their conductive ink, but there are still a few limitations.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
  • You're bound by limitations, including the ability to create only two webpages, a 1GB monthly data transfer limit, and 50 CMS items (blog posts, images, etc).
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026
Definition of limitation
Noun
  • Looking upward, guests can watch professional tree climbers ascend into the canopy held by only a rope in the treetop, and some can participate as well.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • Book a stay in one of Amilla’s unique Treetop Villas, and hover above the canopy in this super-luxe version of a treehouse.
    — Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
Definition of canopy
Noun
  • If people continue to cross this boundary, speak up, says Adia Gooden, a clinical psychologist and host of the podcast Unconditionally Worthy.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 18 July 2026
  • April 20 – May 20 A money boundary could shift how people see your value.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of boundary
Noun
  • Plenty of similar parties benefit from the same big-tent communal mindset.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 July 2026
  • Several years ago, British tent maker Cinch Outdoors teamed up with Chinese innovator Wild Land to Kickstart the inflatable Air Cruiser rooftop tent.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 July 2026
Definition of tent
Noun
  • Sharp, a rookie second-round draft pick from Houston, continued to impress at both ends of the floor with big shots and big stops on defense.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • But stepping out of the Georgia prison proved not to be the end of the uphill battle the father of two faced after his wrongful conviction.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of end

Phrases Containing ceiling

Browse Nearby Words

ceilidhs
ceiling
ceilings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceiling. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ceiling

Nglish: Translation of ceiling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ceiling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All