A constraint is something that limits or controls what you can do.
Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints.
Water shortages in the area will be the main constraint on development.
[Also + on]
Synonyms: restriction, limitation, curb, rein More Synonyms of constraint
2. uncountable noun
Constraint is control over the way you behave which prevents you from doing what you want to do.
More Synonyms of constraint
constraint in British English
(kənˈstreɪnt)
noun
1.
compulsion, force, or restraint
2.
repression or control of natural feelings or impulses
3.
a forced unnatural manner; inhibition
4.
something that serves to constrain; restrictive condition
social constraints kept him silent
5. linguistics
any very general restriction on a sentence formation rule
constraint in American English
(kənˈstreɪnt)
noun
1.
a constraining or being constrained
; specif.,
a.
confinement or restriction
b.
compulsion or coercion
2.
a.
repression of natural feelings or behavior
b.
forced, unnatural manner; awkwardness
3.
something that constrains
Word origin
ME constreinte < OFr: see constrain
COBUILD Collocations
constraint
budgetary constraints
financial constraints
impose constraints
time constraints
Examples of 'constraint' in a sentence
constraint
We call this relationship your full income constraint.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Nor is there a financial constraint on policies for growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We know that budgetary constraint is unavoidable.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The overtones of patriotism impose powerful moral constraints.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The dealer talked about legal constraints on him and doing his work legally.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Planning is not the main constraint holding back the construction of new houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These findings are a reflection of choices made by individuals subject to a full income constraint.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
How does he solve these financial constraints?
The Sun (2016)
The parade has already been scaled back to allow for budgetary constraints resulting from the economic crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Current legal constraints unacceptably hamper our efforts to deal with extremists.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the main constraints are longer term.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The interest earnings on the lottery prize pushes your full income constraint up in our graph.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
Financial constraints make it easier to survive as a solo act or a duo.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Show your full income constraint before and after taxes.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
And was it affordable within financial and manpower constraints?
McInnes, Colin NATO's Changing Strategic Agenda (1990)
How is the full income constraint changed by this specification?
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
There is a serious intellectual case for scaling back commitments in line with changed threats and budgetary constraints.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But the financial constraints that the department faced meant that it would have been irresponsible to try to avoid them.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This imposes special responsibilities, and may impose very real constraints on activities throughout the system.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Investors now also face additional constraints imposed by the Government.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Legal constraints weighed heavily on Fenton.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Thus, we might say that rational individuals take actions that move them closer toward their goals subject to income and time constraints.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
They are also set in the context of budgetary constraints and political pressures that may affect government's ability or willingness to pay.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
While the system has a gold standard in quality for apprenticeships, this can impose constraints that make it harder to adapt to new digital industries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But they and the public should not be blind to the legal realities and constraints, or the real-life dangers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
constraint
British English: constraint NOUN
A constraint is something that limits or controls what you can do.
Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints.
American English: constraint
Brazilian Portuguese: limitação
Chinese: 限制
European Spanish: restricción
French: contrainte
German: Beschränkung
Italian: restrizione
Japanese: 制約
Korean: 제약
European Portuguese: restrição
Latin American Spanish: restricción
Chinese translation of 'constraint'
constraint
(kənˈstreɪnt)
n
(c) (= restriction) 限制 (xiànzhì)
(u) (= restraint) 约(約)束 (yuēshù)
(u) (= strain) 约(約)束感 (yuēshù gǎn)
to do sth under constraint受逼迫而做某事 (shòu bīpò ér zuò mǒushì)
1 (noun)
Definition
something that limits a person's freedom of action
Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints.
Synonyms
restriction
the relaxation of travel restrictions
limitation
There is to be no limitation on the number of opposition parties.
curb
He called for much stricter curbs on spending.
rein
He wrapped his horse's reins round his left wrist.
deterrent
Police believe that CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent.
hindrance
Higher rates have been a hindrance to economic recovery.
damper
He put a damper on our hopes.
check
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
2 (noun)
People are not morally responsible for that which they do under constraint or compulsion.
Synonyms
force
calls for the siege to be ended by force
pressure
He may be putting pressure on her to agree.
necessity
restraint
compulsion
Students learn more when they are in classes out of choice rather than compulsion.
coercion
It was vital that the elections should be free of coercion or intimidation.
3 (noun)
Definition
repression of natural feelings
She feels no constraint in discussing private matters.
Synonyms
repression
the repression of intense feelings
reservation
embarrassment
We apologize for any embarrassment this statement may have caused.
restraint
A Bill of Rights would act as a restraint on judicial power.
inhibition
They behave with a total lack of inhibition.
timidity
diffidence
He spoke with a certain diffidence.
bashfulness
Suddenly overcome with bashfulness, he lowered his voice.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bashfulness
Suddenly overcome with bashfulness, he lowered his voice.
Synonyms
shyness,
reserve,
embarrassment,
constraint,
hesitation,
modesty,
nervousness,
lack of confidence,
reticence,
self-consciousness,
timidity,
diffidence,
coyness,
timorousness,
mousiness,
sheepishness,
timidness
in the sense of check
Definition
a means to ensure against fraud or error
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
Synonyms
control,
limitation,
restraint,
constraint,
rein,
obstacle,
curb,
obstruction,
stoppage,
inhibition,
impediment,
hindrance,
damper
in the sense of coercion
It was vital that the elections should be free of coercion or intimidation.