limit

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noun lim·it \ ˈli-mət \

Definition of limit

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 came
—John Milton

3 :limitation

the sadness is without limit
—William 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.

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limitless

play \ˈli-mət-ləs\ adjective

—

limitlessly

adverb

—

limitlessness

noun

See limit defined for English-language learners

See limit defined for kids

Examples of limit in a Sentence

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!

Recent Examples of limit from the Web

Lawmakers also are under a tight timetable to agree on a plan to raise the nation's debt limit.

— chicagotribune.com, "Poll shows strong disapproval of how Trump responded to Charlottesville violence," 21 Aug. 2017
Lawmakers will also confront impending deadlines on the federal budget and the country’s borrowing limit, which must be raised by the deadline or risk defaulting on the country’s debt obligations.

— emily cochrane, New York Times, "Ryan Condemns Trump’s ‘Both Sides’ Remark but Tries to Move On," 21 Aug. 2017
But make no mistake: There's no age limit to color.

— amber rambharose, Glamour, "Why Beauty Supply Stores Are the Best Spots to Buy Makeup," 18 Aug. 2017
But Take My Wife is also perfectly poised to explore some of the comedy scene’s bleeding edges by diving into one of the day’s most popular (and divisive) topics: what kind of humor, if any, should be off limits.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "It’s Not Too Late to Save One of TV’s Most Urgently Important Shows," 16 Aug. 2017
Artists are always the ones who take new materials and push them to new limits.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Artists Can Now Buy One of the World’s Blackest Blacks," 16 Aug. 2017
As is the case in every Southern town, at the far end border of the city limits, as distant from the original downtown as could be, sat the Walmart.

— alice anderson, Good Housekeeping, "After I Survived Hurricane Katrina, My Husband Violently Attacked Me," 16 Aug. 2017
Florida law already includes some limits on imposing taxes.

— steve bousquet and mary ellen klas, miamiherald, "Governor wants to make raising your taxes harder. Not everyone agrees that’s good.," 14 Aug. 2017
The head-up display projected current speed, navigation directional arrows, posted speed limit, and more onto the windshield.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "BMW adds M550i xDrive model to the 5-Series sedan line for 2017," 4 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'limit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of limit

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

limit Synonyms

Synonyms

bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, confines, end, extent, limitation, line, termination

Related Words

extremity, fag end, terminus; border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge; outside; bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

limit

verb

Definition of limit

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

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limitable

play \ˈli-mə-tə-bəl\ adjective

—

limiter

noun

See limit defined for English-language learners

Examples of limit in a Sentence

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 of limit from the Web

Limit the number of plays per game in which a player may participate.

— john branch, The Seattle Times, "Upset over damage to players, ESPN football analyst walks away," 30 Aug. 2017
His proposal also would limit surge pricing during unforeseen emergencies, like snowstorms or public transportation breakdowns, to 150 percent of the average regular rate during the previous seven days.

— hal dardick, chicagotribune.com, "Beale urges ride-sharing driver fingerprinting, surge pricing limits," 30 Aug. 2017
The union limited the job action to two days, during which the county Board of Supervisors will be meeting at the downtown County Administration Center.

— joshua stewart, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego County's biggest union announces strike date," 29 Aug. 2017
The roach issue was limited to a live roach inside the mop sink.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Roaches, dead and alive, shut down 4 Miami area restaurants and get 14 others cited," 28 Aug. 2017
House Bill 1774, which goes into effect Sept. 1, advocates for insurance companies to limit lawsuit abuses, Chron reports.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "Hurricane Harvey: Here's Why Texans Might Need To File Insurance Claims ASAP," 28 Aug. 2017
The result: Millions of dollars were allocated to the Idaho facility in the late 1980s and early 1990s to satisfy commitments made by DOE to Andrus, who limited the waste Idaho would take.

— rocky barker, idahostatesman, "Andrus’ legacy: Idaho’s wild spaces, schools, nuclear cleanup," 25 Aug. 2017
As an advisor to the President, choosing to limit your activism to 140 characters on twitter is a symbol of your complacency and comfort.

— jazz smollett-warwell, Glamour, "Raising Our Daughters In the Age of Charlottesville: An Open Letter to Ivanka Trump," 25 Aug. 2017
Treaty obligations limit the number of warheads each U.S. missile can carry, so there's no need to make the missile bigger.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "What We Know About the U.S.'s New Nuclear Missile," 23 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of limit

see ¹limit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

limit Synonyms

Synonyms

cap, circumscribe, confine, hold down, restrict

Antonyms

exceed

Related Words

bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct; constrict, contract, lessen, narrow, pinch, squeeze, tighten; quell, repress, suppress; number; modify, qualify

Near Antonyms

broaden, expand, widen; overextend, overreach

Synonym Discussion of 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

LIMIT Defined for English Language Learners

limit

play

noun

Definition of limit for English Language Learners

: a point beyond which it is not possible to go
: a point beyond which someone is not allowed to go
: an amount or number that is the highest or lowest allowed

limit

verb

Definition of limit for English Language Learners

: to stop or prevent an increase in (something) : to keep (something) from becoming greater
: to prevent (something) from being larger, longer, more, etc. : to place a limit on the size or extent of (something)
: to stop (someone) from having or doing more : to place a limit on (someone)

LIMIT Defined for Kids

limit

play

noun lim·it \ ˈli-mət \

Definition of limit for Students

1 :a point beyond which it is impossible to go

She runs often, but she knows her limits.

2 :an amount or number that is the lowest or highest allowed After I spent my limit, I went home.

3 :a boundary line

the city limits

limit

verb

Definition of limit for Students

limited; limiting

:to place a control on the size or extent of something

I need to limit expenses.

Learn More about limit

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limitless

limitlessly

limitlessness

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limit

Definition of limit

limitable

limiter

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Origin and Etymology of limit

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LIMIT Defined for English Language Learners

limit

Definition of limit for English Language Learners

limit

Definition of limit for English Language Learners

LIMIT Defined for Kids

limit

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limit

Definition of limit for Students

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