ceiling

American  

[see-ling] / ˈsi lɪŋ /

noun

1. the overhead interior surface of a room.

2. 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.

3. Aeronautics.

   1. 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.

   2. Also called absolute ceiling.  the maximum altitude at which a particular aircraft can operate under specified conditions.

4. Meteorology. the height above ground level of the lowest layer of clouds that cover more than half of the sky.

5. a lining applied for structural reasons to a framework, especially in the interior surfaces of a ship or boat.

6. 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.

7. the act or work of a person who makes or finishes a ceiling.

8. vaulting, as in a medieval church.

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idioms

1. hit the ceiling, to become enraged.

   When he saw the amount of the bill, he hit the ceiling.

ceiling British  

/ ˈsiːlɪŋ /

noun

1. the inner upper surface of a room

2. 1. an upper limit, such as one set by regulation on prices or wages

   2. ( as modifier )

      ceiling prices

3. the upper altitude to which an aircraft can climb measured under specified conditions See also service ceiling absolute ceiling

4. 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

5. a wooden or metal surface fixed to the interior frames of a vessel for rigidity

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ceiling More Idioms  

1. see glass ceiling; hit the ceiling.

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Other Word Forms

• ceilinged
  adjective
• subceiling
  noun
• unceilinged
  adjective
• underceiling
  noun

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

“But it does have a ceiling to it. Even at its best, it does not grant the resources that this film offered.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

“Demand destruction,” as Morales put it, could put a ceiling on rising plastic prices, but a supply-demand imbalance will make it difficult for companies to dodge the greater expense.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

But that familiar protection system has a built in ceiling.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

When I sat up, there was only the length of my iPhone 17 Pro Max between my head and the ceiling.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Together we walked across the echoing room, and I glanced up at the perfectly intact ceiling.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• beam
• plaster
• roof