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Definition of limit noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    limit

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈlɪmət//
     
     
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  1. 1limit (to something) a point at which something stops being possible or existing There is a limit to the amount of pain we can bear. The team performed to the limit of its capabilities. She knew the limits of her power. to push/stretch/test someone or something to the limit His arrogance knew (= had) no limits.
  2. 2limit (on something) the greatest or smallest amount of something that is allowed synonym restriction a time/speed/age limit The agency has set strict limits on levels of pollution. They were traveling at a speed that was double the legal limit. You can't drive—you're over the limit (= you have drunk more alcohol than is legal when driving). to keep government spending within acceptable limits
  3. 3the furthest edge of an area or a place We were reaching the limits of civilization. the city limits (= the imaginary line which officially divides the city from the area outside) see off-limits
    4. Thesauruslimit
    • restriction
    • control
    • constraint
    • restraint
    • limitation
    These are all words for something that limits what you can do or what can happen.
    • limit the greatest or smallest amount of something that is allowed:The government has set strict limits on spending. the speed limit
    • restriction (somewhat formal) a rule or law that limits what you can do:There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can withdraw.
    • control (often in compounds) the act of limiting or managing something; a method of doing this:crowd control
    • constraint (somewhat formal) a fact or decision that limits what you can do:The agency is operating under severe budget constraints.
    • restraint (somewhat formal) a decision, a rule, an idea, etc. that limits what you can do; the act of limiting something because it is necessary or sensible to do so:The new law has imposed restraints on exports to Russia.
    • limitation the act or process of limiting something; a rule, fact, or condition that limits something:They would resist any limitation of their powers.
    restriction, constraint, restraint, or limitation?These are all things that limit what you can do. A restriction is a rule or law that is made by someone in authority. A constraint is something that exists rather than something that is made, although it may exist as a result of someone's decision. A restraint is also something that exists: it can exist outside yourself, as the result of someone else's decision; but it can also exist inside you, as a fear of what other people may think or as your own feeling about what is acceptable:moral/social/cultural restraints. A limitation is more general and can be a rule that someone makes or a fact or condition that exists.Patterns
    • limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations on something
    • limits/limitations to something
    • severe limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations
    • tight limits/restrictions/controls/constraints
    • to impose/remove limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations
    • to ease/lift restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints
    Idioms
    be the limit (old-fashioned) (informal)
     
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    to be extremely annoying
    the sky's the limit (informal)
     
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    there is no limit to what someone can achieve, earn, do, etc. With a talent like his, the sky's the limit.
    within limits
     
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    to some extent; with some restrictions I'm willing to help, within limits.
See limit in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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