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 No one was injured when part of the ceiling in the building's Grand Foyer fell, according to the Kennedy Center. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Ivan Datsiv, an IT worker, was in his apartment in Kyiv’s Podil district when a Russian drone tore through the floor on Tuesday, charring the ceilings and walls of his apartment and completely destroying the one next door. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 But Dead Zone backs still didn’t hit elite scoring seasons at a substantially better rate than late-round RBs, despite the inherent advantages of having stronger early-season roles, and that only amplifies the ceiling point. — Ben Gretch, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The passion is coming through the ceiling to Cesc and his mate downstairs. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 Sep. 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
  • The pre-tax dependent care account limit rises to $7,500 for 2026, covering elder care.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Over the last decade, hundreds of homes have burned down near the outer limits of Lisbon, Milan and other European cities, including scores this summer outside Madrid and Athens.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Play was suspended on the outside courts, but the roofs could close on Armstrong and Ashe, protecting Bublik and Wolf, and Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, from the elements.
    — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The California Legislature just passed two bills that advocates say will greatly improve access to small-scale solar for renters, people in condos and others who don’t have access to their roofs or can’t afford a full rooftop array.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of roof
Noun
  • The approach is designed around the limitations of small aerial vehicles, where additional weight and continuous motor operation can quickly drain a battery.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Financial constraints might have prevented Jarmond from firing Kelly sooner, but those limitations didn’t prevent him from extending Kelly’s contract in 2023.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of limitation
Noun
  • The museum plaza’s sweeping bridge creates a canopy of welcoming shade (inspired by Expo Park’s own trees), which the city — particularly this part — desperately needs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • At 441 feet high, the lookout is the highest point of elevation in the area, meaning a bird’s eye view of the forest’s colorful canopy.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of canopy
Noun
  • The film centers on Leo and Anne, whose relationship becomes caught in a cycle of attraction and separation as the boundaries between intimacy and dependence, care and control and presence and absence steadily begin to collapse.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But the methods used in the show’s sting operations, as depicted here, uncomfortably skirt the dubious boundaries of entrapment.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of boundary
Noun
  • Robinson's attorney Staci Visser argued that there's no evidence the shooter endangered anyone other than Kirk, noting that the only person under the tent with Kirk was on the side opposite to the bullet's path.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Stock up on campsite favorites like cozy hammocks, spacious tents, and portable chairs that make settling into your favorite spot more comfortable.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of tent
Noun
  • Still, the emotionally stunted John claims not to harbor ill feelings toward Hal, though this is most certainly challenged by the end of the episode.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Even near the end of an August in which the Jays went 17-11, the team posted a near-average wRC+ (101 entering Sunday).
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 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 6 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ceiling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ceiling

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