limit

1 of 2

noun

lim·​it ˈli-mət How to pronounce limit (audio)
1
a
: something that bounds, restrains, or confines
the age limit for junior golf
b
: the utmost extent
pushed her body to the limit
2
a
: a geographic or political boundary
b
limits plural : the place enclosed within a boundary : bounds
into the limits of the North they cameJohn Milton
3
: limitation
the sadness is without limitWilliam Shakespeare
4
: a determining feature or differentia in logic
5
: a prescribed maximum or minimum amount, quantity, or number: such as
a
: the maximum quantity of game or fish that may be taken legally in a specified period
b
: a maximum established for a gambling bet, raise, or payoff
6
a
: a number whose numerical difference from a mathematical function is arbitrarily small for all values of the independent variables that are sufficiently close to but not equal to given prescribed numbers or that are sufficiently large positively or negatively
b
: a number that for an infinite sequence of numbers is such that ultimately each of the remaining terms of the sequence differs from this number by less than any given positive amount
7
: something that is exasperating or intolerable
We've had bad weather, but this is the limit.
limitless adjective
limitlessly adverb
limitlessness noun

limit

2 of 2

verb

limited; limiting; limits

transitive verb

1
: to assign certain limits to : prescribe
reserved the right to limit use of the land
2
a
: to restrict the bounds or limits of
the specialist can no longer limit himself to his specialty
b
: to curtail or reduce in quantity or extent
we must limit the power of aggressors
limitable adjective
limiter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for limit

limit, restrict, circumscribe, confine mean to set bounds for.

limit implies setting a point or line (as in time, space, speed, or degree) beyond which something cannot or is not permitted to go.

visits are limited to 30 minutes

restrict suggests a narrowing or tightening or restraining within or as if within an encircling boundary.

laws intended to restrict the freedom of the press

circumscribe stresses a restriction on all sides and by clearly defined boundaries.

the work of the investigating committee was carefully circumscribed

confine suggests severe restraint and a resulting cramping, fettering, or hampering.

our choices were confined by finances

Examples of limit in a Sentence

Noun He has reached the limit of his endurance. In training, she pushed her body to its physical limits. He tries to be creative within the limits of conventional journalism. There are limits to what I can put up with from him! Verb We need to find ways to limit expenses. He tried to limit the damage to his reputation by blaming other people. A factor limiting our country's economic performance is its lack of resources. Our lack of money limits our options. Because of our lack of money, we have to limit ourselves to fewer options.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In addition, this site has made everything simple for you by providing a large range of popular payment options to choose from, with low minimum limits. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 So make sure the establishment allows corkage, inquire about the fee, and ask if there is a limit on number of bottles per customer. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 Under the Pisces new moon, your imagination knows no limits. USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 That is the effective extraction limit of the pumps, many of which now lie abandoned. Fred Pearce, WIRED, 9 Mar. 2024 There is currently no FDA limit for heavy metals in spices. Jonel Aleccia, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 There will always be an upper limit to supply, tied to the amount of waste that other sectors generate. Wood MacKenzie, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 There are some limits and safeguards on all this data. Byron Tau, WIRED, 27 Feb. 2024 Her blood-alcohol level was at least twice the legal limit, according to the LAPD. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
The streak of narcissism in Dr. Stockmann limits the reach of his brilliance. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Public services have been limited, including trash collection, and cholera has resurfaced, while gangs have terrorized the population with systematic rape, indiscriminate kidnapping and mass killing. Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Spotify has, in turn, limited its iOS app to avoid paying those commission fees. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 The new government can, of course, limit itself to meeting the expectations of its own electorate. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Some Michigan state parks limit or prohibit alcohol possession. Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 There's no law that says Easter baskets have to be limited to sweets. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 Delta hasn’t specified the entry requirements for the premium lounges, but airlines usually limited such spaces to passengers in first or business class, top-tier loyalty members, and travelers who pay for the most premium airline credit cards. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Though her screen time was limited (given the film’s three-and-a-half-hour length), her performance was stunning—and a win would be history-making. Condé Nast, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'limit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French limite, from Latin limit-, limes boundary

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of limit was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near limit

Cite this Entry

“Limit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limit. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

limit

1 of 2 noun
lim·​it ˈlim-ət How to pronounce limit (audio)
1
: a boundary line
within the city limits
2
: a point beyond which a person or thing cannot go
limitless adjective

limit

2 of 2 verb
: to set limits to : keep within limits
limit expenses
management reserves the right to limit quantities
an adjective limits the meaning of a noun

More from Merriam-Webster on limit

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