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
-
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 plan to further restrict it was later abandoned.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Forward-looking models that require immediate recognition of lifetime losses force rapid reserve building when earnings are under pressure and restrict lending precisely when credit is most needed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
That connection appears to restrict how freely the plants can adapt, with selection for larger flowers taking precedence over the potential benefit of earlier flowering.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
Authorities would have powers to restrict basic freedoms such as freedom of movement and assembly and, most controversially of all, intercept communications in specific geographic areas.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
He began to restrict his riding to top horses assigned high imposts.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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
A low-carbohydrate diet, also known as the Atkins or ketogenic diet, greatly restricts carbohydrates.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Beijing restricts Tesla vehicles from certain government and military locations because of concerns about cameras and data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
‘He restricts my powers. This storm above? I haven’t had this much fun in ages, yet it is only a small taste of what I can do!’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Her driving licence was also initially taken away, and then restricted.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
These have severely restricted grain exports in the Black Sea -- a crucial source of Kyiv's revenue.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
They also don’t apply to messaging, meaning kids can still DM each other during restricted hours even with the blocks turned on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
It’s possible that limited diversity and abundance of prey may mean their nutrition is restricted.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
It is also not restricted to our time: Sumerian cylinder seals from the third millennium b.c. and Taoist flags in prerevolutionary China displayed constellations.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
He has previously vetoed some bills aimed at restricting big tech.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
One possible strategy is restricting protein intake, which could reduce tyrosine exposure.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
Sundararajan says the designation should bring faster clearances, emergency repair mechanisms and an Indian cable-repair capability, along with legally protected cable zones around landing sites and routes, restricting anchoring and trawling.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
In March, a federal district judge granted the trust a preliminary injunction, temporarily restricting the ballroom construction from proceeding while the litigation continued.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
The story went on to say, “The federal government is permitting a California biotechnology company to license three experimental cancer drugs from Cuba—making an exception to the policy of tightly restricting trade with that country.”
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
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.
