within limits
idiom
: without going beyond what is considered reasonable or allowable
They told us that we could do whatever we liked, within (certain) limits.
Examples of within limits in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The impulse to care first for one’s own people can be morally justified but only within limits.
—
Lawrence O. Gostin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Jan. 2021
Using, possessing and growing marijuana for personal use, within limits, became legal last August.
—Steve Karnowski, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Where Democrats and at least some Republicans not that long ago were open to immigration within limits, today’s negotiations in Washington are all about securing the border, with no measures to legalize those here illegally.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Tehran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been careful in their support for Hamas, keeping their actions within limits, to prevent a larger American military response that could threaten Tehran’s exercise of power in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.
—Ronen Bergman, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature, and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand.
—James Pollard, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Dec. 2023
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi last week said his country is trying to help – within limits.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023
Love animals – within limits The relatively small number of surviving texts that Francis himself wrote reveal his thoughts about the myriad creatures around him.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2023
Production employees agree to let Lincoln increase or decrease their standard 40-hour workweek within limits based on customer demand.
—Joseph Abrams, Fortune, 24 July 2023
Lawrence O. Gostin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Jan. 2021
Using, possessing and growing marijuana for personal use, within limits, became legal last August.
—Steve Karnowski, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Where Democrats and at least some Republicans not that long ago were open to immigration within limits, today’s negotiations in Washington are all about securing the border, with no measures to legalize those here illegally.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Tehran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, have been careful in their support for Hamas, keeping their actions within limits, to prevent a larger American military response that could threaten Tehran’s exercise of power in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.
—Ronen Bergman, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Handheld weather meters ensure wind speed, temperature, and humidity fall within limits under plans written beforehand.
—James Pollard, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Dec. 2023
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi last week said his country is trying to help – within limits.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023
Love animals – within limits The relatively small number of surviving texts that Francis himself wrote reveal his thoughts about the myriad creatures around him.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2023
Production employees agree to let Lincoln increase or decrease their standard 40-hour workweek within limits based on customer demand.
—Joseph Abrams, Fortune, 24 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'within limits.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near within limits
Cite this Entry
“Within limits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/within%20limits. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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