limit

1 of 2

noun

lim·​it ˈli-mət 

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.

limitless

ˈli-mət-ləs 

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

ˈli-mə-tə-bəl 

adjective

limiter noun

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

• cap
• circumscribe
• confine
• hold down
• restrict

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

Protection from surveillance comes in two forms: top-down legal and policy limits on data collection, and bottom-up technological protections in the hands of the targets of that surveillance. —Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 16 June 2025

The city has only $30 billion of room under its state constitutional borrowing limits. —Antonio Weiss, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025

Verb

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, tree planting and maintenance, urban forest planning, workforce development, invasive species management and forest restoration. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025

Cleveland has early Bird rights on Jerome and is limited to a starting salary of $14.4 million on his next deal, but that’s still more than the $14.1 million that teams with the nontaxpayer midlevel exception (MLE) can pay him. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 17 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing limit

• age limit
• central limit theorem
• credit limit
• elastic limit
• limit point
• over the limit
• reach one's limit
• Roche limit
• speed limit
• term limit
• the limit
• the sky's the limit
• three-mile limit
• time limit
• to the limit
• without limit

Rhymes for limit

• delimit

Kids Definition

limit

1 of 2 noun

lim·​it ˈlim-ət 

1

: a boundary line

within the city limits

2

: a point beyond which a person or thing cannot go

limitless

-ləs 

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