ceiling

/ˈsiːlɪŋ/

//ˈsiːlɪŋ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"ceiling" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“ceiling” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,302 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,302
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
15
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The overhead closure of a room.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

ceiling vs cling
71% similar
ceiling vs citing
71% similar
ceiling vs Celine
57% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for ceiling
PropertyValue
Headwordceiling
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsiːlɪŋ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#5,302
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs15
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ceiling” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). ceiling lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for ceiling is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsiːlɪŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,302 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for ceiling, with forms such as "cceiling", "ceiilng", and "ceilign". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 15 confusable-pair relationships, "cling", "citing", "Celine", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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. The correct English form is ceiling, spelled C-E-I-L-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    The overhead closure of a room.
  2. 2
    The upper limit of an object or action.
  3. 3
    The highest altitude at which an aircraft can safely maintain flight.
  4. 4
    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."
  5. 5
    The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.
  6. 6
    The inner planking of a vessel.
  7. 7
    The maximum permitted level in a financial transaction.
  8. 8
    The overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room.

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.

Synonyms

ceilceil

Antonyms

floor

This word in other languages

techo(Español)plafond(Français)Decke(Deutsch)teto(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cceiling,ceiilng,ceilign,ceilingg,ceilinng,ceilling,ceilnig,celiing,cieling,eciling

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of ceiling - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

cceiling1ceiilng2ceilign2ceilingg1ceilinng1ceilling1ceilnig2celiing2
Edit distance from "ceiling"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "ceiling"?
"ceiling" is spelled C-E-I-L-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsiːlɪŋ/.
What does "ceiling" mean?
As a noun, "ceiling" means: The overhead closure of a room.
What words are commonly confused with "ceiling"?
"ceiling" is commonly confused with "cling", "citing", "Celine". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "ceiling"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ceiling" is /ˈsiːlɪŋ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "ceiling"?
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. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “ceiling”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-E-I-L-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cling” - see the side-by-side comparison. ceiling vs cling
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list