restrict
Americanverb (used with object)
-
restricts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
restricted,
past participle, past
-
restricting
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
restricternoun
-
restrictornoun
-
derestrictverb (used with object)
-
overrestrictverb (used with object)
-
prerestrictverb (used with object)
-
nonrestrictingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
restrictsimple
-
restrictssimple
-
have restrictedperfect
-
has restrictedperfect
-
am restrictingprogressive
-
are restrictingprogressive
-
is restrictingprogressive
-
have been restrictingperfect progressive
-
has been restrictingperfect progressive
Past
-
restrictedsimple
-
had restrictedperfect
-
was restrictingprogressive
-
were restrictingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 9
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Too Young to Drive?" and "Rules of the Road"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
On the ballot is Measure BB — as in “Billboard Blight” — which would restrict billboard advertising on public property.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Previous schemes to help first-time buyers did not restrict eligibility by income but faced criticism for stoking house prices by allowing relatively wealthy households to borrow more.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Amazon sued Perplexity in November 2025, accusing the startup of using its Comet browser agent to covertly make purchases on its marketplace, and has also moved to restrict agents from Google and OpenAI.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Further research will be needed to determine whether these biological features actually restrict their growth.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
She had to bring Clara with her on marketing days, but though her stepsister now controlled the purse, she did little else to restrict her.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
Health authorities continue to face shortages of resources, while insecurity caused by armed groups in Ituri province, the area hardest hit by the epidemic, restricts access to some communities.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
A quarter-point rate hike from here would get the federal funds rate between 4% and 4.25%, what Kaplan says is in the neighborhood of the neutral rate that neither accelerates nor restricts the economy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
The Bass campaign’s decision came after The Times questioned whether the donations might run afoul of a city law that restricts campaign contributions by city contractors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The government policy, which came into effect from 1 September, restricts mandatory uniform items with school logos to three for primary schools and four for secondary schools, with the latter including ties.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 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
Ukraine now has a "stable connection" to Starlink, its defence minister has said, after its military suffered days of restricted connectivity on the satellite internet network.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
They sent two first-round draft picks and two first-round pick swaps to pry Kessler, a restricted free agent, from Utah.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
They also emphasize the need to develop conservation protections quickly for these vulnerable mollusks, which are native to highly restricted environments and could face serious threats before their populations are fully understood.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
Prices for tungsten, an ultra-hard metal that is key for the defence industry, have soared to record highs since China restricted exports in mid-2025.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Byrdsong was a Newport News native who served in World War II in the Montford Point Marines, the first group of black men permitted to join that previously restricted branch of the American military.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Uganda and Rwanda are restricting public events and mass gatherings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
In 1974, the court held that an earlier statute restricting judicial review of veterans’ benefits decisions did not prevent federal district courts from hearing constitutional challenges to a law governing veterans’ benefits.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
“We were really stressed at that point, and, to head that off, we started restricting the major,” Atul Prakash, chair of computer science and engineering at Michigan, told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
Atherosclerotic plaques are deposits of fat and other substances that accumulate inside artery walls, potentially restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
On the committee’s agenda were two proposed pieces of legislation restricting wireless phone use by drivers.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
