constraints

/kənˈstreɪnt/ (bre, ipa) · [kənstrˈents] /kənˈstreɪnt/ (ame, ipa) · [kənstrˈents] /kən-ˈstrānt How to pronounce constraint (audio)/ (ame, mw)

constraints — noun

1. Limits or pressures that narrow the choices open to you and shape what you can d

1.名詞B2
釋義

Limits or pressures that narrow the choices open to you and shape what you can do.

例句

Budget constraints forced Christopher to repair the roof in two stages.

budget constraints — money limits a plan

Tight legal constraints stopped Elena from sharing the patient's records.

constraints on action from legal rules

同義詞
  • limits

    the everyday broad word; less formal and less tied to planning contexts

  • restrictions

    more often suggests rules imposed by an authority

  • boundaries

    often sounds physical or personal, not mainly practical

反義詞
  • freedom

    the ability to choose and act without being held back

  • flexibility

    the ability to adjust plans instead of working within tight limits

文法句型

constraints on + noun phrase

work within constraints

face / manage / remove constraints

用法筆記

Usually plural in practical contexts such as design, policy, money, or time. Unlike sense 3 (FORCED ACTION), this sense names the limiting condition itself, not a loss of free choice caused by direct pressure.

常見錯誤

❌The constraints of the bridge is low.
✅The bridge has tight design constraints.
💡Use 'constraints' for limiting conditions, not as a general word for size or height.
❌I finished early under constraint.
✅I finished early under time constraints.
💡For ordinary limits such as time or money, use the plural practical sense rather than the fixed phrase in sense 3.

2. A stiff or self-conscious manner that shows someone is holding back natural feel

2.名詞C1
釋義

A stiff or self-conscious manner that shows someone is holding back natural feelings or movements.

例句

Although Chiara smiled politely, her constraint made the table feel cold.

constraint in someone's manner — emotional stiffness

The young actor's constraint vanished once the rehearsal games began.

同義詞
  • reserve

    stresses emotional distance more than physical stiffness

  • stiffness

    more direct and can sound slightly less formal

  • self-consciousness

    emphasises worry about how one appears to others

反義詞
  • ease

    a relaxed, natural way of behaving

  • spontaneity

    free, unforced behaviour without careful holding back

文法句型

show constraint

speak with constraint

without constraint

用法筆記

Commonest in careful or literary English, usually in the singular. Unlike sense 1 (LIMITING FACTORS), this sense describes reserve in a person's manner or in the atmosphere between people.

常見錯誤

❌My knee has a constraint today.
✅My knee movement is limited today.
💡This sense is about restrained behaviour, not physical stiffness in a body part.
❌The bank constraint made her shy.
✅Her constraint made her sound shy.
💡Here the word describes her manner, not an outside limit such as money or rules.

3. Pressure or force that makes someone act without real choice, especially in the

3.名詞C1
釋義

Pressure or force that makes someone act without real choice, especially in the phrase 'under constraint'.

例句

The witness signed the paper under constraint after hours of threats.

under constraint — action done by force

Sari agreed only under constraint after the landlord blocked the exit.

同義詞
  • coercion

    stronger and more legal in tone, often implying threats

  • compulsion

    formal; stresses being driven to act against one's wishes

  • pressure

    broader and more everyday; not always as forceful as constraint

反義詞
  • consent

    a willing agreement to act

  • free choice

    acting because you decide to, not because someone forces you

文法句型

under constraint

act under constraint

speak / sign / confess under constraint

用法筆記

Mostly appears in the fixed phrase 'under constraint' and implies outside pressure, coercion, or threat. Unlike sense 1 (LIMITING FACTORS), it focuses on acting against your own will rather than coping with ordinary practical limits.

常見錯誤

❌I left under constraint because the bus was late.
✅I left under pressure because the bus was late.
💡'under constraint' suggests coercion or force, not an everyday inconvenience.
❌The team worked under constraint of one week.
✅The team worked under time constraints for one week.
💡Use sense 1 for ordinary schedule limits.