limitedness
limitedness — noun
1. the condition of something being not enough in amount, size, or range, or of bei
the condition of something being not enough in amount, size, or range, or of being restricted within narrow boundaries
The limitedness of the hospital's supplies forced doctors to find creative solutions.
subject: the limitedness of [something] + consequence
Tara accepted the limitedness of her time abroad and planned each weekend carefully.
Kwame was frustrated by the limitedness of job opportunities in his small town.
The limitedness of Liang's teaching experience made him nervous on his first day.
Researchers struggled with the limitedness of the data available for the climate study.
- restrictiveness
emphasises external rules or constraints rather than simple scarcity
- narrowness
focuses on small range or scope rather than quantity
- finitude
more technical or philosophical; refers to having a definite end or boundary
- unlimitedness
the direct opposite
- boundlessness
suggests no limits at all, often in a positive sense
文法句型
the limitedness of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Limitedness is an uncountable noun that typically appears in formal or academic contexts. It is far less common than the adjective limited, which learners should prioritise.
常見錯誤
limitedness — adjective
- limitednesspositive
- more limitednesscomparative
- most limitednesssuperlative
1. small in amount, size, or range; not very large or extensive
small in amount, size, or range; not very large or extensive
The hotel has a limited number of rooms, so we should book early.
attributive: limited + noun (number / time / budget / space)
Andrés has only limited experience with graphic design software, so he still needs training.
The museum buys only two new paintings a year because of its limited budget.
Hugo had limited time to finish the exam and answered the easiest questions first.
The school offers a limited menu of courses for first-year students.
- restricted
very close in meaning but can suggest deliberate control or rules
- confined
more physical or spatial; suggests being kept within small boundaries
- finite
more technical; emphasises that there is a definite end or limit
文法句型
limited + noun
be limited
limited to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns to indicate that something is insufficient: a limited budget, limited space, limited time. The phrase limited to signals what the restriction applies to (e.g. 'The offer is limited to the first fifty customers').
常見錯誤
2. not open to new ideas or original thinking; narrow in imagination or approach
not open to new ideas or original thinking; narrow in imagination or approach
The critic described the film's plot as limited and completely unoriginal.
predicative: be + limited (describing creative work)
Eitan felt his art teacher's limited vision held back the whole class.
The company's limited thinking on product design cost them many customers.
Yan found the novel's limited character development very disappointing and hard to finish.
Adina's speech was full of limited ideas that added nothing new to the debate.
- narrow
very close; 'narrow thinking' and 'limited thinking' are often interchangeable
- unimaginative
more direct about the lack of creativity; less common in everyday speech
- restricted
can overlap, but 'restricted' often implies external limits rather than an internal lack of originality
- imaginative
showing creativity and original thinking
- broad-minded
willing to accept new ideas and different opinions
- creative
producing original and interesting ideas
文法句型
limited + abstract noun (thinking / vision / imagination)
be limited in + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense carries a negative, critical tone. It is most commonly used with abstract nouns describing thought or creativity: limited vision, limited imagination, limited thinking. Distinguish from sense 1 (RESTRICTED IN SCOPE), which is neutral and describes quantity or extent.