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

Its winner, whether filmmaker or rights holder, will give the platform an exclusive license to show the film for a limited period. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

As the only Supreme Court case to date involving censorship in school libraries, Pico, while a limited ruling, did set out general guidelines still used today. — Susan Farrell, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

The Drug in Our Pocket is expected to get an Oscar-qualifying run this fall, followed by a limited theatrical release in early 2027. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

The latest project will test whether the forecasting gains seen during the initial trial can be maintained as the technology moves from a limited dataset to hundreds of real-world household energy systems. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 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