top definitions
quizzes
related content
examples
explore dictionary
british
medical
scientific
idioms and phrases

limited

[ lim-i-tid ]

/ ˈlɪm ɪ tɪd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR limited ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

confined within limits; restricted or circumscribed: a limited space; limited resources.

Government. restricted with reference to governing powers by limitations prescribed in laws and in a constitution, as in limited monarchy; limited government.

characterized by an inability to think imaginatively or independently; lacking originality or scope; narrow: a rather limited intelligence.

Chiefly British.

responsible for the debts of a company only to a specified amount proportionate to the percentage of stock held.
(of a business firm) owned by stockholders, each having a restricted liability for the company's debts.
(usually initial capital letter) incorporated; Inc. Abbreviation: Ltd.

(of railroad trains, buses, etc.) making only a limited number of stops en route.

noun

a limited train, bus, etc.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of limited

First recorded in 1545–55; limit + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM limited

lim·it·ed·ly, adverblim·it·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby limited

limit-state design, limitarian, limitary, limitation, limitative, limited, limited company, limited edition, limited liability, limited monarchy, limited partner

Definition for limited (2 of 2)

limit

[ lim-it ]

/ ˈlɪm ɪt /

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.

Origin of limit

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

SYNONYMS FOR limit

2 confine, frontier, border.

8 restrain, bound.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR limit ON THESAURUS.COM

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

boundary limit parameter variable (see synonym study at boundary) (see usage note at parameter)limit limitation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for limited

But those weapons are of limited utility, especially during close-in fights.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In addition, foreign films were limited by a system of licensure to a third of the number of domestic films.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When they invade new territory, populations are low, and the queen has limited mate options.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That phenomenon is not limited to peaceniks with spiritual aspirations.
COEXIST’s Bonehead Bumper-Sticker Politics|Michael Schulson|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I could save myself a lot of time and aggravation if I just limited my listening to megastars and their hyped hits.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All social cohesion and co-operation rest on this comprehension, and are limited by its degree of perfection.
Illusions|James Sully
For be it known that they house "respectable" people only, those that have limited families and can pay a high rental.
London's Underworld|Thomas Holmes
Still it was lofty, and it was wide enough to admit of a certain but limited amount of exercise to its occupant.
In the Days of Chivalry|Evelyn Everett-Green
Firstly, with a limited reference to its unsuitability to these pages.
The Letters of Charles Dickens|Charles Dickens
In fact, his underground world, limited as it was, for the moment contented him utterly.
The Haunters of the Silences|Charles G. D. Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for limited (1 of 2)

limited

/ (ˈlɪmɪtɪd) /

adjective

having a limit; restricted; confined

without fullness or scope; narrow

(of governing powers, sovereignty, etc) restricted or checked, by or as if by a constitution, laws, or an assemblylimited government

US and Canadian (of a train) stopping only at certain stations and having only a set number of cars for passengers

mainly British (of a business enterprise) owned by shareholders whose liability for the enterprise's debts is restricted

noun

US and Canadian a limited train, bus, etc

Derived forms of limited

limitedly, adverblimitedness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for limited (2 of 2)

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

Medical definitions for limited

limit

[ lĭm′ĭt ]

n.

The point, edge, or line beyond which something cannot or may not proceed.

A confining or restricting object, agent, or influence.

The greatest or least amount, number, or extent allowed or possible.

v.

To confine or restrict within a boundary or bounds.

To fix definitely; to specify.

Other words from limit

lim′it•a•ble adj.

Scientific definitions for limited

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.

Idioms and Phrases with limited

limit

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

limited

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Origin of limited

OTHER WORDS FROM limited

Words nearby limited

Definition for limited (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of limit

SYNONYMS FOR limit

OTHER WORDS FROM limit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH limit

Example sentences from the Web for limited

British Dictionary definitions for limited (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of limited

British Dictionary definitions for limited (2 of 2)

noun

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

Derived forms of limit

Word Origin for limit

Medical definitions for limited

n.

v.

Other words from limit

Scientific definitions for limited

Idioms and Phrases with limited

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

limited

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Origin of limited

OTHER WORDS FROM limited

Words nearby limited

Definition for limited (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of limit

SYNONYMS FOR limit

OTHER WORDS FROM limit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH limit

Words related to limited

Example sentences from the Web for limited

British Dictionary definitions for limited (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of limited

British Dictionary definitions for limited (2 of 2)

noun

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

Derived forms of limit

Word Origin for limit

Medical definitions for limited

n.

v.

Other words from limit

Scientific definitions for limited

Idioms and Phrases with limited