limited

1 of 2

adjective

lim·​it·​ed ˈli-mə-təd 

1

a

: confined within limits : restricted

limited success

b

of a train : offering faster service especially by making a limited number of stops

2

: characterized by enforceable limitations prescribed (as by a constitution) upon the scope or exercise of powers

a limited monarchy

3

: lacking breadth and originality

… a bit limited; a bit thick in the head …

—Virginia Woolf

limitedly adverb

limitedness noun

limited

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of limit entry 2

Synonyms of limited

Adjective

• restricted
• finite
• defined
• definite

Examples of limited in a Sentence

Adjective

Only a limited number of students will be allowed in the class.

People with limited incomes are hit particularly hard by inflation.

The company has had limited success.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The company announced that limited production is scheduled to begin in 2027. — New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026

This reduces computational requirements, allowing the system to operate on a moving robot with limited processing resources. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026

If the movie isn’t doing business in auditoriums, it gets pulled, not to mention Bleecker Street titles typically have a limited wide run in theaters for less than a month. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

As a result, Piaget dropped the limited Collage timepiece back in 2025, home to blocks of pink opal, green chrysoprase, and yellow serpentine on the dial, now followed by the 2026 iteration (price available upon request). — Nicole Hoey For Robb Report, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing limited

• limited-access
• limited edition
• limited government
• limited liability
• limited liability partnership
• limited partner
• limited partnership
• limited war
• self-limited
• sex-limited

Rhymes for limited

• delimited
• unlimited

Kids Definition

limited

adjective

lim·​it·​ed

1

: held within limits

2

: having constitutional limitations placed on the exercise of power

a limited monarchy

limitedly adverb

limitedness noun