curb

1 of 2

noun

ˈkərb 

plural curbs

1

a

or British kerb : an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter

They sat on the curb eating their ice cream.

see also kick to the curb

b

[from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street] : a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange

c

: a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine

d

: an enclosing frame, border, or edging

2

a

: check, restraint

a price curb

government policies that are designed to put a curb on spending

b

: a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws

also : the chain or strap attached to it see bit illustration

curb

2 of 2

verb

curbed; curbing; curbs

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with a curb

2

: to check or control with or as if with a curb

trying to curb her curiosity

3

: to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (such as a gutter) for defecation

Synonyms

Noun

• check
• circumscription
• condition
• constraint
• fetter
• limitation
• restraint
• restriction
• stricture

Verb

• bridle
• check
• constrain
• contain
• control
• govern
• hold
• inhibit
• keep
• measure
• pull in
• regulate
• rein (in)
• restrain
• rule
• tame

Choose the Right Synonym for curb

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something.

restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Examples of curb in a Sentence

Noun

We sat on the curb eating our ice cream.

these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures

Verb

The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increases.

pills designed to curb your appetite

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When he was arrested, a shaggy-haired Dominguez stood on a streetside curb along a quiet Villanova Drive surrounded by Davis police and Yolo County Sheriff’s deputies, dressed in the dark hooded tracksuit that matched a suspect description. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025

That driver had struck several curbs and traveled through a yard, the caller said, according to The Dispatch. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025

Verb

And birthright citizenship is particularly ill-suited as a vehicle for curbing them. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 17 May 2025

Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing Biden’s attempts to curb fossil fuels to help address climate change. —Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French courbe curve, curved piece of wood or iron, from courbe curved, from Latin curvus

Verb

derivative of curb entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing curb

• curb appeal
• curb cut
• curb ramp
• curb service
• curb weight
• kick to the curb

Rhymes for curb

• blurb
• erb
• herb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

curb

1 of 2 noun

ˈkərb 

1

: a chain or strap on a horse's bit used to control the horse by pressing against the lower jaw

2

: check entry 1 sense 3

price curbs

3

: an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street

curb

2 of 2 verb

1

: to control by or furnish with or as if with a curb

legislation to curb price and wage increases

curb your appetite

2

: to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (as a gutter) for defecation

Medical Definition

curb

noun

ˈkərb 

: a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness