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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in defines
to mark the limits of
the country is bounded by water on two sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bounds
Sean Nevin, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Council, who had 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 34 minutes (six points the second half), indeed fired a cross-court pass high over a teammate’s head out of bounds in the second stanza.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Vanderbilt wins a challenge on an out of bounds call concerning Clemence.
—American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
And kind of push the bounds of something, right?
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The 21-year-old Arkansas product, who had been out since late-December with a right MCL sprain, showcased hustle too – saving a ball from going out of bounds to set up a Timme layup on the other end.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
The delicate foliage and cheery red and yellow flowers are easy to pluck out if a plant sprouts out of bounds.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Kayshon Boutte's route led him out of bounds, and the pass fell incomplete and punted for the sixth time.
—February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Over the course of the past few decades, as technology has continued to evolve in leaps and bounds, so too have the visual aesthetic preferences of consumers.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 7 Feb. 2026
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Each time Ivy's owner, Ryan, draws nearer, the dog fakes him out and bounds away, tail wagging.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Growing by leaps and bounds Lavrenov has always been prepared.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Age of Imprisonment both controls and performs leaps and bounds better than its predecessors.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
As my guide Nicolas Jeanroy preps his truffle gear, which looks like a collection of garden tools, his canine partner, Taïga, bounds up.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
And speaking of guest stars doing all of the trio’s investigative work for them, Richard Kind then bounds into the room (as Richard Kinds are wont to do) with a huge development of his own.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Within moments, the rangy 29-year-old actor Harris Dickinson bounds down an exterior staircase and shakes my hand.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
While the immediate retooling impacts the auto workforce across the state, the shifts also affect the international competition where experts think China and Europe are leaps and bounds ahead of American EV technology and adoption.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
But Page ran out of bounds, so he is disqualified.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
Council, who had 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 34 minutes (six points the second half), indeed fired a cross-court pass high over a teammate’s head out of bounds in the second stanza.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Vanderbilt wins a challenge on an out of bounds call concerning Clemence.
—American Statesman Staff, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
And kind of push the bounds of something, right?
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
The 21-year-old Arkansas product, who had been out since late-December with a right MCL sprain, showcased hustle too – saving a ball from going out of bounds to set up a Timme layup on the other end.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
The delicate foliage and cheery red and yellow flowers are easy to pluck out if a plant sprouts out of bounds.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Kayshon Boutte's route led him out of bounds, and the pass fell incomplete and punted for the sixth time.
—February 9, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Over the course of the past few decades, as technology has continued to evolve in leaps and bounds, so too have the visual aesthetic preferences of consumers.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
In the special filmed at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Fleming bounds across the stage sharing his takes on masculinity, conga lines, Trader Joes, Oreos, NPR, dog breeds and more.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Each time Ivy's owner, Ryan, draws nearer, the dog fakes him out and bounds away, tail wagging.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
Growing by leaps and bounds Lavrenov has always been prepared.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Age of Imprisonment both controls and performs leaps and bounds better than its predecessors.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
As my guide Nicolas Jeanroy preps his truffle gear, which looks like a collection of garden tools, his canine partner, Taïga, bounds up.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
And speaking of guest stars doing all of the trio’s investigative work for them, Richard Kind then bounds into the room (as Richard Kinds are wont to do) with a huge development of his own.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Within moments, the rangy 29-year-old actor Harris Dickinson bounds down an exterior staircase and shakes my hand.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
While the immediate retooling impacts the auto workforce across the state, the shifts also affect the international competition where experts think China and Europe are leaps and bounds ahead of American EV technology and adoption.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bounds. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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