ceiling
Americannoun
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ceilings
plural
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the overhead interior surface of a room.
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the top limit imposed by law on the amount of money that can be charged or spent or the quantity of goods that can be produced or sold.
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Aeronautics.
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the maximum altitude from which the earth can be seen on a particular day, usually equal to the distance between the earth and the base of the lowest cloud bank.
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Also called absolute ceiling. the maximum altitude at which a particular aircraft can operate under specified conditions.
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Meteorology. the height above ground level of the lowest layer of clouds that cover more than half of the sky.
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a lining applied for structural reasons to a framework, especially in the interior surfaces of a ship or boat.
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Also called ceiling piece. Theater. the ceiling or top of an interior set, made of cloth, a flat, or two or more flats hinged together.
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the act or work of a person who makes or finishes a ceiling.
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vaulting, as in a medieval church.
idioms
noun
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the inner upper surface of a room
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an upper limit, such as one set by regulation on prices or wages
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( as modifier )
ceiling prices
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the upper altitude to which an aircraft can climb measured under specified conditions See also service ceiling absolute ceiling
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meteorol the highest level in the atmosphere from which the earth's surface is visible at a particular time, usually the base of a cloud layer
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a wooden or metal surface fixed to the interior frames of a vessel for rigidity
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ceiling
1350–1400, ceiling for def. 7; Middle English; see ceil, -ing 1
Explanation
A ceiling is the upper surface of a room. If you’re lying on the floor, you’re staring up at the ceiling. If you’re lying on the ceiling, you’ll be lying on the floor again soon. You may have heard the sky’s the limit — but in truth, the limit is the ceiling, both physically and metaphorically. The top of a room, but still under the roof, a ceiling is the point at which you can go no farther. You’ll find both helium balloons and hot tempers hitting it. In the workplace, if you aren't getting that promotion and can't understand why, you might have hit a "glass ceiling."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The housing market is currently in a “stalemate,” she added, with buyers hitting their ceiling in terms of affordability and sellers not wanting to drop their asking prices further.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
As we prepared to enter it, we had no idea if the ceiling had collapsed, if the tomb had been looted or destroyed, or if it was still well preserved.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
"We even found living corals hidden in a ceiling," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Jordan’s mural utilizes the flush mount dome in the center of the dining room ceiling as an Art Deco-inspired star motif, with painted white points extending from it for emphasis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Clare, for example, had strung the ceiling with rows and rows of twine, from which freshly cut mushrooms hung to dry.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Overlapping action figures, posters and teddy bears also cover Martin's walls and ceilings – his collectables consist of "anything unusual", but he's mostly inspired by Hollywood.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The eatery features Midcentury Modern touches with curved cherry wood walls and paneled ceilings, as well as illuminated white onyx Corian surfaces.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Inside, the school has high ceilings and big windows, a 300-seat auditorium, a gym, a ceramics studio and a court for a soccer variant called futsal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with classic Hamptons charm and modern luxury, offering vaulted ceilings, five fireplaces, a sunken living room, formal dining room, and an expansive chef’s kitchen designed for entertaining.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Gregor carried Boots inside a large room with vaulted ceilings.
From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
