restricts; restricted; restricting
1
: to limit the amount or range of (something)
Her eye problem restricts her reading.
She was told to restrict the amount of salt she uses.
They want to restrict access to the beach. [=they want to limit who can use the beach]
The new law restricts smoking in public places.
They have accused the government of trying to restrict free speech.
—often used as (be) restrictedVisits are restricted to 30 minutes. [=visits cannot be longer than 30 minutes]
The damage from the fire was restricted to the rear of the building. [=the rear of the building was the only part damaged by the fire]
2
: to prevent (someone) from doing something
They say the government is trying to restrict them from speaking out.
3
: to allow (someone) to only have or do a particular thing
—usually + to
The doctor restricted her to a low-fat diet. [=she was only allowed to eat a low-fat diet]
He restricts himself to one cup of coffee a day. [=he allows himself to have only one cup of coffee a day]
Cite this Entry
“Restrict.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/restrict. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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