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

Hurts almost found Hollywood Brown for a touchdown, but Brown was out of bounds in the back of the end zone. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Navarro chopped his feet prior to the shot, but Carter dove to his left and pushed the attempt out of bounds. — Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

There was another incident on the far field, which began when Tevin Austin objected to being hit out of bounds. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

In the suit, the Mamdani administration maintained that the Council acted outside the bounds of its authority and broke laws around collective bargaining in giving paraprofessionals the pay boost. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

An inbounds pass caromed off a Jakarta player out of bounds and the game was over. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Yet when a prominent woman says essentially the same thing, the reaction can make the position seem beyond the bounds of acceptable discussion. — Jonathan Alpert Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

There's an absurd scientific explanation for these events, but the movie doesn't spend too much time on it, which is mostly for the best within the bounds of its sub-100-minute run. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Rourke appeared to throw a touchdown pass on the previous play to Taylor, who was ruled out of bounds. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

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

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

Phrases Containing bounds

• by leaps and bounds