restrict
Americanverb (used with object)
-
restricts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
restricted,
past participle, past
-
restricting
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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restricternoun
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restrictornoun
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derestrictverb (used with object)
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overrestrictverb (used with object)
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prerestrictverb (used with object)
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nonrestrictingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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restrictsimple
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restrictssimple
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have restrictedperfect
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has restrictedperfect
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am restrictingprogressive
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are restrictingprogressive
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is restrictingprogressive
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have been restrictingperfect progressive
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has been restrictingperfect progressive
Past
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restrictedsimple
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had restrictedperfect
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was restrictingprogressive
-
were restrictingprogressive
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had been restrictingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of restrict
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin restrictus “drawn back, tightened, bound, reserved,” adjective use of past participle of restringere “to bind back, bind fast”; see restrain
Explanation
To restrict is to limit. If you want to eat more healthily, you might restrict, or limit, yourself to eating only foods containing fruits and vegetables –- like carrot cake and apple pie. You'll often encounter different words related to restrict. A restriction is a law or rule, like the restriction against driving a car without a license. Something that is not permitted is restricted, and this word is often used to designate physical locations that are off limits to the public. You'll often see characters in movies break into restricted areas to obtain secret information.
Vocabulary lists containing restrict
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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List 9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The charity helped successfully campaign for changes in government rules to restrict the number of branded items schools demand in school uniforms - in theory allowing parents to by cheaper generic clothing.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Meta has fought aggressively to restrict not only when documents can be introduced in the upcoming federal trial, but how.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Alongside efforts to restrict access and harmful information, the researchers suggest that emergency services could take additional steps to reduce the consequences of sodium nitrite poisoning.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
A growing number of countries are taking steps to restrict social media access amid multiplying warnings over its harmful effects on children.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
He began to restrict his riding to top horses assigned high imposts.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
It restricts where and how development can take place, particularly near the coast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
They are also protected under CITES, an international agreement that tightly restricts trade in endangered species.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The United States restricts exports to China of the most cutting-edge silicon chips used to power artificial intelligence systems, designed by industry leader Nvidia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Dozens of the collection’s works — including all the paintings by Kahlo and Rivera — bear the legal imprimatur of “artistic monument,” which restricts sales and export.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“I shudder to think what that means. But perhaps it will limit Kronos’s power. For a time, at least, he is confined to a human form. It binds him together. Hopefully it also restricts him.”
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
“Life as we know it has a fairly restricted temperature domain that basically relies on liquid water, at least in small amounts, and Titan’s surface is far too cold,” Lorenz said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
But after the war began, Beijing restricted fuel exports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Despite their progress, Chinese firms face hurdles, including restricted access to advanced chips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Although the Channel tunnel is used only at about 50 percent capacity, previous rival bids for a new service on the line have hit hurdles including regulation and restricted station capacity.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
It floated into daylight, turned sideways and passed out of the restricted view.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Across South East Asia, authorities are looking at restricting social media use for minors, citing possible ill effects.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Meta argues it implemented measures to protect young users from predators, such as restricting direct messages from adults.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
"I do not believe restricting access to foreign open source models is an effective solution," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
“I do not believe restricting access to foreign open source models is an effective solution. Our goal should be for American open source models to be the best globally,” said Zuckerberg.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Partly it was to do with the limitations of equipment–there were, for instance, no centrifuges until the second half of the century, severely restricting many kinds of experiments–and partly it was social.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
