Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense limits, present participle limiting, past tense, past participle limited
1. countable noun [usually singular]
A limit is the greatest amount, extent, or degree of something that is possible.
Her love for him was being tested to its limits.
There is no limit to how much fresh fruit you can eat in a day. [+ to]
Firefighters are being stretched to the limit as fire sweeps through the state.
Synonyms: end, bound, ultimate, deadline More Synonyms of limit
2. countable noun
A limit of a particular kind is the largest or smallest amount of something such as time or money that is allowedbecause of a rule, law, or decision.
The three month time limit will be up in mid-June.
The economic affairs minister announced limits on petrol sales. [+ on]
3. countable noun
The limit of an area is its boundary or edge.
...the city limits of Baghdad. [+ of]
4. plural noun
Thelimitsof a situation are the facts involved in it which make only some actions or results possible.
She has to work within the limits of a fairly tight budget. [+ of]
He outlined the limits of British power. [+ of]
Synonyms: limitation, maximum, restriction, ceiling More Synonyms of limit
5. verb
If you limit something, you prevent it from becoming greater than a particular amount or degree.
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt. [VERB noun]
Place numbers are limited to 25 on both tours, so please book early. [VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: restrict, control, check, fix More Synonyms of limit
6. verb
If you limityourself to something, or if someone or something limits you, the number of things that you have or do is reduced.
It is now accepted that men should limit themselves to 20 units of alcohol a week. [VERB pronoun-reflexive + to]
Voters cut councillors' pay and limited them to one staff member each. [VERB noun + to]
[Also VERB pronoun-reflexive]
limitingadjective
The conditions laid down to me were not too limiting.
7. verb [usually passive]
If something is limitedto a particular place or group of people, it exists only in that place, or is had or done only by that group.
The protests were not limited to New York. [beVERB-ed + to]
Entry to this prize draw is limited to U.K. residents. [beVERB-ed + to]
8. See also age limit, limited
9.
See off limits
10.
See off limits
11.
See be over the limit
12.
See the sky is the limit
13.
See within limits
More Synonyms of limit
limit in British English
(ˈlɪmɪt)
noun
1. (sometimes plural)
the ultimate extent, degree, or amount of something
the limit of endurance
2. (often plural)
the boundary or edge of a specific area
the city limits
3. (often plural)
the area of premises within specific boundaries
4.
the largest quantity or amount allowed
5. mathematics
a.
a value to which a function f(x) approaches as closely as desired as the independent variable approaches a specified value (x = a) or approaches infinity
b.
a value to which a sequence an approaches arbitrarily close as n approaches infinity
c.
the limit of a sequence of partial sums of a convergent infinite series
the limit of 1 + 1⁄2 + 1⁄4 + 1⁄8 + … is 2
6. mathematics
one of the two specified values between which a definite integral is evaluated
7. the limit
8. off limits
9. within limits
verbWord forms: -its, -iting or -ited(transitive)
10.
to restrict or confine, as to area, extent, time, etc
11. law
to agree, fix, or assign specifically
Derived forms
limitable (ˈlimitable)
adjective
limitableness (ˈlimitableness)
noun
limitless (ˈlimitless)
adjective
limitlessly (ˈlimitlessly)
adverb
limitlessness (ˈlimitlessness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin līmes boundary
limit in American English
(ˈlɪmɪt)
noun
1.
the point, line, or edge where something ends or must end; boundary or border beyond which something ceases to be or to be possible
2. [pl.]
bounds; boundary lines
3.
the greatest number or amount allowed
to catch the limit for a day of trout fishing
4.
the maximum amount which may be bet, or by which a bet may be raised, at one time, as in poker
5. Ancient Mathematics
a fixed quantity or value which a varying quantity is regarded as approaching indefinitely
verb transitive
6.
to confine within bounds; set a limit to; restrict; curb
Idioms:
the limit
SYNONYMY NOTE: limit implies the prescribing of a point in space, time, or extent, beyond which it isimpossible or forbidden to go [limit your slogan to 25 words]; bound2 implies an enclosing in boundaries or borders [a meadow bounded by hills]; restrict implies a boundary that completely encloses and connotes a restraining within thesebounds [the soldier was restricted to the camp area]; circumscribe emphasizes more strongly the cutting off or isolation of that which is within thebounds [he leads the circumscribed life of a monk]; confine stresses the restraint or hampering of enclosing limits [confined in jail]
OPPOSITES: widen, expand
Derived forms
limitable (ˈlimitable)
adjective
limiter (ˈlimiter)
noun
Word origin
OFr limite < L limes (gen. limitis), border, frontier
More idioms containing
limit
the sky's the limit
COBUILD Collocations
limit
alcohol limit
exceed the limit
impose a limit
set a limit
upper limit
Examples of 'limit' in a sentence
limit
The case did not reach court because a judge deemed that a legal time limit had been breached.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Access to parts of the south and southwest of the country was still limited only to helicopters and boats.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tell him you are putting a daily limit on the amount of time you play this game with him.
The Sun (2016)
Hopefully the sky is this limit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While he has broadly embraced change, one area remains off limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They know perfectly well that presidents and their advisers live in a bubble where they make choices limited by what they are told is possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His reading is not known but offenders get jail if they are around twice the UK alcohol limit or more.
The Sun (2016)
Far outside the city limits, where there is no light pollution, you have the best chance of a good display.
The Sun (2016)
Three jobs in a day is my limit but I have made more than 1,000.
The Sun (2016)
This is one small car that is more than comfortable venturing beyond city limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The limits of that power were implicit in the reasons for recognising its existence.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Another is to limit building on areas considered at risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Push it to the limits and make it your own.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Time limits were there to be obeyed.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The sky is the limit for him.
The Sun (2010)
You may well be over the legal limit for driving.
The Sun (2015)
The simplest way of managing it is to agree limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We are thinking of three nights at each place and are fairly limited by cost.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The limits placed on a restriction were important factors in the assessment of its proportionality.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Should we be doing something to limit the numbers of these birds?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But there is a boundary and a limit to what they should be seeing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
On day two you limit your carbs and on day three you cut them out altogether.
The Sun (2012)
Those that were available were limited by the amount of fuel they could carry.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
The difficult thing for any leader is to admit the limits of his power.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Make the limit variable depending on conditions or traffic?
The Sun (2011)
Choice can be limited in rural areas but most people will have access to at least two surgeries.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In politics it is the only way to reconcile people with unwelcome news or the limits of the possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Becoming smarter means improving connections between different brain areas but this runs into tight limits on energy and space.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Sometimes, the specified limit is too much.
The Sun (2014)
The speed limit on minor country roads could be dropped to 40mph under new government proposals.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
limit
British English: limit /ˈlɪmɪt/ NOUN
A limit is the greatest amount, extent, or degree of something that is possible.
Her love for him was tested to its limits.
American English: limit
Arabic: حَدّ
Brazilian Portuguese: limite
Chinese: 限度
Croatian: ograničenje
Czech: mez hranice
Danish: grænse
Dutch: limiet
European Spanish: límite
Finnish: yläraja
French: limite
German: Grenze
Greek: όριο
Italian: limite
Japanese: 限界
Korean: 한계
Norwegian: grense
Polish: granica limit
European Portuguese: limite
Romanian: limită
Russian: предел
Latin American Spanish: límite
Swedish: gräns
Thai: ขีดจำกัด
Turkish: sınır
Ukrainian: межа
Vietnamese: giới hạn
British English: limit VERB
If you limit something, you prevent it from becoming greater than a particular amount or degree.
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
American English: limit
Brazilian Portuguese: limitar
Chinese: 限制
European Spanish: limitar
French: limiter
German: begrenzen
Italian: limitare
Japanese: 制限する
Korean: 제한하다
European Portuguese: limitar
Latin American Spanish: limitar
Chinese translation of 'limit'
limit
(ˈlɪmɪt)
vt
[production, expense etc]限制 (xiànzhì)
n(c)
(= maximum point) 限度 (xiàndù) (个(個), gè)
[of area, city]界线(線) (jièxiàn)
(= restriction) (on time, money) 限定 (xiàndìng) (种(種), zhǒng)
to limit o.s. to sth自我限定某物 (zìwǒ xiàndìng mǒuwù)
to be off limits (to sb)禁止(某人)入内(內) (jìnzhǐ (mǒurén) rùnèi)
to be over the limit (Brit) 饮(飲)酒过(過)量 (yǐnjiǔ guòliàng)
within limits适(適)度地 (shìdù de)
All related terms of 'limit'
age limit
年龄(齡)限制 niánlíng xiànzhì
speed limit
速度极(極)限 sùdù jíxiàn [ 个(個) gè ]
time limit
期限 qīxiàn [ 个(個) gè ]
to be over the limit
( Brit ) 饮(飲)酒过(過)量 yǐnjiǔ guòliàng
to limit o.s. to sth
自我限定某物 zìwǒ xiàndìng mǒuwù
to push o.s. to the limit
将(將)自己推到极(極)限 jiāng zìjǐ tuī dào jíxiàn
1 (noun)
Definition
the ultimate extent or amount of something
My love for you is being tested to its limits.
Synonyms
end
bound
ultimate
deadline
The deadline for submission of entries is the end of May.
utmost
breaking point
termination
a dispute which led to the abrupt termination of trade
extremity
a small port on the north-western extremity of the island
greatest extent
the bitter end
end point
cutoff point
furthest bound
2 (noun)
Definition
the boundary of a specific area
the city limits
Synonyms
boundary
the western boundary of the wood
end
Surveillance equipment is placed at both ends of the tunnel.
edge
She was standing at the water's edge.
border
Clifford is enjoying life north of the border.
extent
pale
confines
frontier
It wasn't difficult to cross the frontier.
precinct
perimeter
They walked round the perimeter of the stadium.
periphery
Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.
3 (noun)
Definition
the largest quantity or amount allowed
He outlined the limits of British power.
Synonyms
limitation
There is to be no limitation on the number of opposition parties.
maximum
The law provides for a maximum of two years in prison.
restriction
the restrictions of urban living
ceiling
restraint
Criminals could cross into the country without restraint.
(verb)
Definition
to restrict
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
Synonyms
restrict
a move to restrict the number of students on campus at any one time
control
The government tried to control rising health-care costs.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
fix
He's fixed a time when I can see him.
bound
Our lives are bounded by work, family and television.
confine
She had largely confined her activities to the world of big business.
specify
curb
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
restrain
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
ration
Staples such as bread, rice and tea are already being rationed.
hinder
circumscribe
The monarch's powers are circumscribed by Parliament.
hem in
demarcate
The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.
delimit
This is not meant to delimit what approaches social researchers can adopt.
put a brake on
keep within limits
straiten
phrase
See the limit
Additional synonyms
in the sense of border
Definition
the dividing line between political or geographic regions
Clifford is enjoying life north of the border.
Synonyms
frontier,
line,
marches,
limit,
bounds,
boundary,
perimeter,
borderline,
borderland
in the sense of bound
Definition
to place restrictions on
Our lives are bounded by work, family and television.
Synonyms
limit,
fix,
define,
restrict,
confine,
restrain,
circumscribe,
demarcate,
delimit
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
Synonyms of 'limit'
limit
Explore 'limit' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of circumscribe
Definition
to limit or restrict within certain boundaries
The monarch's powers are circumscribed by Parliament.
Synonyms
restrict,
limit,
define,
confine,
restrain,
delineate,
hem in,
demarcate,
delimit,
straiten
in the sense of confine
Definition
to restrict the free movement of
She had largely confined her activities to the world of big business.
Synonyms
restrict,
limit
in the sense of control
Definition
to limit or restrain
The government tried to control rising health-care costs.
Synonyms
limit,
restrict,
curb,
delimit
in the sense of curb
Definition
to control or restrain
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
Synonyms
restrain,
control,
check,
contain,
restrict,
moderate,
suppress,
inhibit,
subdue,
hinder,
repress,
constrain,
retard,
impede,
muzzle,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
keep a tight rein on
in the sense of deadline
Definition
a time or date by which a job or task must be completed
The deadline for submission of entries is the end of May.
Synonyms
time limit,
cutoff point,
target date or time,
limit,
finish date or time
in the sense of delimit
Definition
to mark or lay down the limits of
This is not meant to delimit what approaches social researchers can adopt.
Synonyms
define,
mark (out),
determine,
fix,
bound,
demarcate
in the sense of demarcate
The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.
Synonyms
delimit,
mark,
separate,
determine,
fix,
define,
differentiate,
distinguish between
in the sense of edge
Definition
a border or line where something ends or begins
She was standing at the water's edge.
Synonyms
border,
side,
line,
limit,
bound,
lip,
margin,
outline,
boundary,
fringe,
verge,
brink,
threshold,
rim,
brim,
perimeter,
contour,
periphery,
flange
in the sense of extremity
Definition
the farthest point
a small port on the north-western extremity of the island
Synonyms
limit,
end,
edge,
border,
top,
tip,
bound,
minimum,
extreme,
maximum,
pole,
margin,
boundary,
terminal,
frontier,
verge (British),
brink,
rim,
brim,
pinnacle,
termination,
nadir,
zenith,
apex,
terminus,
apogee,
farthest point,
furthest point,
acme
in the sense of fix
Definition
to settle definitely or decide upon
He's fixed a time when I can see him.
Synonyms
decide,
set,
name,
choose,
limit,
establish,
determine,
settle,
appoint,
arrange,
define,
conclude,
resolve,
arrive at,
specify,
agree on
Additional synonyms
in the sense of frontier
Definition
the region of a country bordering on another or a line marking such a boundary
It wasn't difficult to cross the frontier.
Synonyms
border,
limit,
edge,
bound,
boundary,
confines,
verge (British),
perimeter,
borderline,
dividing line,
borderland,
marches
in the sense of maximum
Definition
the greatest amount recorded, allowed, or reached
The law provides for a maximum of two years in prison.
Synonyms
top,
most,
peak,
ceiling,
crest,
utmost,
upper limit,
uttermost
in the sense of pale
Definition
a boundary
Synonyms
boundary,
limits,
region,
border,
district,
territory,
bounds,
confines
in the sense of perimeter
Definition
any boundary around something
They walked round the perimeter of the stadium.
Synonyms
boundary,
edge,
border,
bounds,
limit,
margin,
confines,
periphery,
borderline,
circumference,
ambit
in the sense of periphery
Definition
the boundary or edge of an area or group
Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.
Synonyms
boundary,
edge,
border,
skirt,
fringe,
verge (British),
brink,
outskirts,
rim,
hem,
brim,
perimeter,
circumference,
outer edge,
ambit
in the sense of ration
Definition
to restrict the distribution of (something)
Staples such as bread, rice and tea are already being rationed.
Synonyms
limit,
control,
restrict,
save,
budget,
conserve
in the sense of restrain
Definition
to hold (someone) back from some action
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
Synonyms
hold back,
hold,
control,
check,
contain,
prevent,
restrict,
handicap,
confine,
curb,
hamper,
rein,
harness,
subdue,
hinder,
constrain,
curtail,
bridle,
debar,
keep under control,
have on a tight leash,
straiten
in the sense of restraint
Definition
something that restrains
Criminals could cross into the country without restraint.
Synonyms
limitation,
limit,
check,
ban,
boycott,
embargo,
curb,
rein,
taboo,
bridle,
disqualification,
interdict,
restraining order (US)
in the sense of restriction
the restrictions of urban living
Synonyms
limitation,
limit,
handicap,
constraint,
inhibition
in the sense of termination
a dispute which led to the abrupt termination of trade