restrict

[ ri-strikt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to confine or keep within limits, as of space, action, choice, intensity, or quantity.

   Synonyms: obstruct, impede, hinder, hamper, block, check, abridge, restrain, limit, confine, circumscribe

   Antonyms: surpass, exceed

restrict

/ rɪˈstrɪkt /

verb

1. often foll by to to confine or keep within certain often specified limits or selected bounds

   to restrict one's drinking to the evening

Other Words From

• re·stricter re·strictor noun
• dere·strict verb (used with object)
• nonre·stricting adjective
• over·re·strict verb (used with object)
• prere·strict verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of restrict¹

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”; restrain

Word History and Origins

Origin of restrict¹

C16: from Latin rēstrictus bound up, from rēstringere ; see restrain

Example Sentences

The commission proposes that human germline editing should be restricted to serious genetic diseases caused by specific versions of single genes that are virtually guaranteed to cause the disease if inherited.

From Science News

It was after that this president restricted travel and was still being called a bigot.

From Ozy

At the same time, it restricted the ability of state governments to regulate their own waters.

From Outside Online

The Annapolis housing authority restricts payments that cover only part of a month, said Cia Cook, the agency’s chief financial officer.

From ProPublica

Online grocers and e-commerce platforms are suspending some home deliveries, restricting online purchases of certain items, and limiting new customers.

From Singularity Hub 

“People will move between countries, even when governments restrict travel and trade,” Frieden said this week.

From The Daily Beast

They restrict themselves to just the iranian [sic] community, and not the rest of toronto.

From The Daily Beast

Democrats want to expand the electorate, and Republicans want to restrict it.

From The Daily Beast

No laws or executive orders should be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.

From The Daily Beast

I wonder if they are now thinking of how to impose a Twitter-ID law to restrict access?

From The Daily Beast

But if you restrict it, to the sense in which it is commonly applied to the angelic sex, I am not prepared to answer.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, as for religion, in order to satisfy the requirements of the definition, I must restrict myself to my ancestral religion.

From Project Gutenberg

It has as yet suffered no loss and is able to restrict its loss to a minimum by limiting the loan to a particular figure.

From Project Gutenberg

The question of reform arose—how to restrict the number of nobles, which increased every year.

From Project Gutenberg

The problem still remained, how to get the House of Lords to pass a “law” to restrict their own powers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curb
• decrease
• define
• diminish
• hamper
• impede
• inhibit
• limit
• narrow
• reduce
• regulate
• restrain
• shorten