limited

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

Synonyms of limited

• restricted
• finite
• defined
• definite

Examples of limited in a Sentence

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

The challenge is making improvements within the street's limited width. —James Taylor, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

Although there are limited opportunities to add personal touches to a hospital setting, Ruscio tries to crowdsource production-design details wherever possible. —Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026

While details remain limited, the company’s comments suggest that its gigafactories could evolve beyond car production into multipurpose hubs for next-generation technologies, with humanoid robots emerging as a key focus in the years ahead. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026

But in Omaha, local officials struggled to test enough kids with limited resources. —Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing limited

• limited-access
• limited edition
• 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