Synonyms of bounds

bounds 1 of 4

noun (1)

plural of bound

1

as in limits

a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go

the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency

Synonyms & Similar Words

• limits
• limitations
• confines
• boundaries
• lines
• ends
• barriers
• extents
• ceilings
• caps
• terminations
• edges
• borders
• fences
• margins
• extremities
• walls
• restraints
• termini
• fag ends
• hedges
• rims
• verges
• stops
• brims
• bars
• outsides

2

as in confines

the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

colored outside the bounds of the drawing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• confines
• boundaries
• perimeters
• edges
• borders
• edgings
• circumferences
• margins
• verges
• fringes
• skirts
• ends
• peripheries
• outskirts
• rims
• brims
• frames
• hems
• compasses
• borderlines
• skirtings
• limitations
• cusps
• extents
• lips
• frontiers
• curbs
• restrictions
• shores
• crests
• ceilings
• demarcations
• maxima
• ambits
• measures
• brinks
• marches
• borderlands
• terminations
• laps
• pales
• meres
• selvages

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hearts
• centers
• cores
• insides
• interiors
• middles
• inners
• withins

bounds

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural of bound

as in leaps

an act of leaping into the air

the kangaroo took one giant bound and was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leaps
• jumps
• hops
• bounces
• vaults
• springs
• skips
• lopes
• pounces
• gambols
• capers
• attacks
• plunges
• caprioles
• dives
• pitches
• gambadoes

bounds

3 of 4

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of bound

1

as in defines

to mark the limits of

the country is bounded by water on two sides

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defines
• limits
• marks (off)
• delimits
• describes
• demarcates
• circumscribes
• demarks
• governs
• terminates
• controls
• determines
• delineates

2

as in borders

to serve as a border for

being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

Synonyms & Similar Words

• borders
• margins
• edges
• surrounds
• fringes
• skirts
• rims
• frames
• circles
• encircles
• defines
• confines
• limits
• walls
• traces
• demarcates
• loops
• outlines
• rings
• rounds
• trims
• circumscribes
• encloses
• restricts
• curbs
• sketches
• delineates
• hems
• restrains
• silhouettes
• environs
• checks
• controls
• girths
• girdles
• compasses

bounds

4 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of bound

1

as in hops

to move with a light springing step

the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hops
• bounces
• leaps
• skips
• lopes
• trips
• jumps
• lollops
• romps
• capers
• frisks
• vaults
• gambols
• skitters
• skims

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trudges
• plods
• lumbers

2

as in jumps

to propel oneself upward or forward into the air

a rabbit bounded down the garden path

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leaps
• jumps
• hops
• vaults
• springs
• bounces
• pounces
• skips
• hurdles
• lopes
• leapfrogs
• attacks
• cavorts
• romps
• gambols
• frolics
• bucks
• capers
• caprioles
• skyrockets
• shoots

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bounds

Noun

The ball landed in the landing zone and rolled out of bounds, giving Kansas City the ball at its 40 to open the second half. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026

The tight end ran down the sideline before he was pushed out of bounds at the 16. — CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

The Beavers nearly recovered a fourth-quarter onside kick after a chaotic scrum that including the ball ricocheting off players and landing out of bounds. — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 9 Nov. 2026

Their only loss came to Ohio State after a would-be game-winning touchdown was caught barely out of bounds. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

Commuting the death sentences of all 548 state prisoners awaiting execution pushes the bounds of his authority once again. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

And his strongest desires are for connection and, quite explicitly, for an ordinary life built upon love and its bounds. — Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

And an incomplete pass was best-case scenario after Patrick Mahomes scrambled just to collect the ball and alertly fire it out of bounds. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

In September of 2025, a De’Von Achane sliver of a foot stepping out of bounds prevented the Dolphins from taking a late lead on the eventual AFC champions. — Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

Verb

Emmy Rossum bounds in, immediately recognizable by her voluminous curls, and pours herself a cup of self-serve iced coffee. — Danielle McNally, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026

Throughout the event, a guy bounds around, introducing the recordists, then crouching to cue their recordings on a laptop, his dark, longish hair under a black dad cap bearing the club’s name. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

With the sprightly energy of a schoolboy, Jean-Paul Doron bounds into an empty creek, his red suede shoes scraping pale rocks. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Over a century later, the Himalayan blackberry has spread far beyond the modest backyard bounds its importers envisioned, opting instead to take over indiscriminately and displace the native trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) in the process. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026

Oprah Winfrey bounds into view in a white dress. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026

Something as simple as adding a tablespoon of fresh ground flax or chia seeds to a smoothie can do leaps and bounds improvement in the microbiome itself. — Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 24 May 2026

Sister typically bounds around on their walks, but Bowen said the tiny dog kept sitting still on the road. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026

As Sac State bounds into the 2026 season as a first-time member of the FBS in the Mid-American Conference, Carter said his squad will not lack in effort. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing bounds

• by leaps and bounds