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

Mainly refraining from four-to-the-floor beats, those artists worked outside the bounds of club-music convention. — Amanda Cavalcanti, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026

Alice, meanwhile, is wrestling with demons of her own, searching for solutions that feel impossible to reach within the bounds of what’s acceptable. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 July 2026

The first was near the left sideline where Stribling had to work to keep both feet in bounds. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s push for aggressive rent controls may have overstepped legal bounds, placing the Rent Guidelines Board in a precarious position. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 26 July 2026

Add a little fertilizer and your plants can send shoots way out of bounds. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026

Penn Station falls within the bounds of his district in New York City. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Pharmacists are rushing to manage prescriptions within the bounds of what a patient’s insurance and condition will allow. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 24 July 2026

With the lead down to five, the K-State standout hit a long 2 while falling out of bounds in the left corner. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Verb

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

Her 3-point shooting has jumped leaps and bounds from the early part of her college career. — Matthew Coller, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026

Taking photos with the device so many people have in their pockets is leaps and bounds beyond photography equipment used during Apollo 17 – even the 1960s-era 35mm camera. — Jennifer Levasseur, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2026

Star has grown by leaps and bounds the past decade and a half. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing bounds

• by leaps and bounds