Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ceiling

/ˈsilɪŋ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.18 in modern English

Syllables: ceil-ing
IPA: /ˈsilɪŋ/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The overhead closure of a room.

noun

The upper limit of an object or action.

noun

The highest altitude at which an aircraft can safely maintain flight.

noun

The measurement of visible distance from ground or sea level to an overcast cloud cover; under a clear sky, the ceiling measurement is identified as "unlimited."

noun

The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.

noun

The inner planking of a vessel.

noun

The maximum permitted level in a financial transaction.

noun

The overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room.

Example Sentences

"The dining room had an ornate ceiling."
"[…] and only at Barnet did Tappin give Empire of India a burst to bring us up to the 60 m.p.h. speed ceiling of the London area."
"Market forces naturally move the economy to the equilibrium, and the price ceiling has no effect on the price or the quantity sold."
"Even though it was cloudy, there was still enough ceiling for the Blue Angels to perform a great show."
"The ceiling of 4.5 is 5; the ceiling of −4.5 is −4."

Etymology

From Middle English celing (“paneling; (bed) cover or hanging”), from celen (“to cover or panel walls”) (from Old French celer (“to conceal”)) + -ing (gerund-forming suffix). By surface analysis, ceil + -ing.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: celing, celer

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsilɪŋ/
British English: /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

Inflected Forms

ceilings (plural)

Derived Forms

ceil ceilinged ceilingless ceilinglike ceilingward ceilingwards subceiling

Phrases

absolute ceiling acoustic ceiling bamboo ceiling brass ceiling cathedral ceiling ceiling bird ceiling effect ceiling fan

Synonyms

cap ceil roof

Homonyms

sealing

Antonyms

floor

Rhymes With

feeling dealing healing stealing revealing appealing sealing kneeling peeling wheeling concealing reeling

Questions

How do you pronounce ceiling?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsilɪŋ/.
What does ceiling mean?: The overhead closure of a room.
Where does ceiling come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ceiling

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ceiling”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsilɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ceiling”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ceiling” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.