limit

[ lim-it ]

/ ˈlɪm ɪt /

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See synonyms for: limit / limited / limiting / limits on Thesaurus.com

noun

the final, utmost, or furthest boundary or point as to extent, amount, continuance, procedure, etc.: the limit of his experience;the limit of vision.

a boundary or bound, as of a country, area, or district.

Mathematics.

a number such that the value of a given function remains arbitrarily close to this number when the independent variable is sufficiently close to a specified point or is sufficiently large. The limit of 1/x is zero as x approaches infinity; the limit of (x − 1)2 is zero as x approaches 1.
a number such that the absolute value of the difference between terms of a given sequence and the number approaches zero as the index of the terms increases to infinity.
one of two numbers affixed to the integration symbol for a definite integral, indicating the interval or region over which the integration is taking place and substituted in a primitive, if one exists, to evaluate the integral.

limits, the premises or region enclosed within boundaries: We found them on school limits after hours.

Games. the maximum sum by which a bet may be raised at any one time.

the limit, Informal. something or someone that exasperates, delights, etc., to an extreme degree: You have made errors before, but this is the limit.

verb (used with object)

to restrict by or as if by establishing limits (usually followed by to): Please limit answers to 25 words.

to confine or keep within limits: to limit expenditures.

Law. to fix or assign definitely or specifically.

OTHER WORDS FOR limit

2 confines, frontier, border.

8 restrain, bound.

See synonyms for limit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of limit

1325–75; Middle English lymyt<Latin līmit- (stem of līmes) boundary, path between fields

OTHER WORDS FROM limit

lim·it·a·ble, adjectivelim·it·a·ble·ness, nouno·ver·lim·it, verb (used with object)re·lim·it, verb (used with object)

un·der·lim·it, nounun·der·lim·it, verb (used with object)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH limit

limit , limitation

Words nearby limit

limicoline, limicolous, liminal, liminality, liminal space, limit, limitarian, limitary, limitation, limitative, limit-cycle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use limit in a sentence

However, Texas maintains strict limits on who can vote by mail.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
The reality is that SEO agencies have versatile profiles which support them in a particular market, but can become limits for other types of development.
How would an SEO agency be built today? Part 2: Current business model(s)|Sponsored Content: SEOmonitor|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
Of all of the restrictions, the most impactful has been the off-limit “target area” – a precise locations that is off limits to individuals named on the gang injunction.
While We’re Rethinking Policing, It’s Time to End Gang Injunctions|Jamie Wilson|September 15, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Moreover, for all the social neediness of others that Terry had bathed in, his sudden disclosures suggested his time for listening had reached a limit.
The Last Bar Standing?|Eugene Robinson|September 15, 2020|Ozy

Chemical clues within these superdeep diamonds suggest that there’s a previously unknown limit to how deep Earth’s carbon cycle goes.
Earth’s rarest diamonds form from primordial carbon in the mantle|Carolyn Gramling|September 14, 2020|Science News
Environmentalists today generally prefer to limit roads and block new water projects, even in parched California.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This approach would greatly limit his appeal beyond the Northeast and the west coast.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The argument now is how to limit certain types of plays that banks can make under certain circumstances.
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren?|Nick Gillespie|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The foremost trendsetter of Scandi-sleek design and New Nordic food knows no limit to its progressive reputation.
The Ultimate LGBT Travel Bucket List||December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sadly, laws throughout the Middle East—from North Africa to the Gulf—limit the rights of religious minorities and non-believers.
What It’s Like to Be an Atheist in Palestine|Waleed al-Husseini, Movements.Org|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The controlling center of consciousness is the extreme limit of the nares anteri.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
They had been permitted to sit up till after the ice-cream, which naturally marked the limit of human indulgence.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Another way of learning such a series by rote, is to limit the extent of the repetitions.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
There was no need of Lawrence signaling Dan to come on, for the squad were urging their horses to the limit.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
McNeil, his force now augmented by Shaffer's, resolved to push Porter to the limit, and if possible bring him to battle.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for limit

limit

/ (ˈlɪmɪt) /

noun

(sometimes plural) the ultimate extent, degree, or amount of somethingthe limit of endurance

(often plural) the boundary or edge of a specific areathe city limits

(often plural) the area of premises within specific boundaries

the largest quantity or amount allowed

maths

a value to which a function f(x) approaches as closely as desired as the independent variable approaches a specified value (x = a) or approaches infinity
a value to which a sequence a n approaches arbitrarily close as n approaches infinity
the limit of a sequence of partial sums of a convergent infinite seriesthe limit of 1 + ½ + ¼ + ⅛ + … is 2

maths one of the two specified values between which a definite integral is evaluated

the limit informal a person or thing that is intolerably exasperating

off limits

out of bounds
forbidden to do or usesmoking was off limits everywhere

within limits to a certain or limited extentI approve of it within limits

verb -its, -iting or -ited (tr)

to restrict or confine, as to area, extent, time, etc

law to agree, fix, or assign specifically

Derived forms of limit

limitable, adjectivelimitableness, nounlimitless, adjectivelimitlessly, adverb

limitlessness, noun

Word Origin for limit

C14: from Latin līmes boundary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for limit

limit

[ lĭm′ĭt ]

A number or point for which, from a given set of numbers or points, one can choose an arbitrarily close number or point. For example, for the set of all real numbers greater than zero and less than one, the numbers one and zero are limit points, since one can pick a number from the set arbitrarily close to one or zero (even though one and zero are not themselves in the set). Limits form the basis for calculus, where a number L is defined to be the limit approached by a function f(x) as x approaches a if, for every positive number ε, there exists a number δ such that |;f(x)-L|; < ε if 0 < |;x-a|; < δ.

Other Idioms and Phrases with limit

limit

see go whole hog (the limit); sky's the limit; the limit.

limit

OTHER WORDS FOR limit

Origin of limit

OTHER WORDS FROM limit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH limit

Words nearby limit

Words related to limit

How to use limit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for limit

Derived forms of limit

Word Origin for limit

Scientific definitions for limit

Other Idioms and Phrases with limit