limits
limits — noun
1. The highest amount, level, or degree of something that is possible, allowed, or
The highest amount, level, or degree of something that is possible, allowed, or physically achievable.
Diego pushed his body to the limits of exhaustion during the final race of the season.
the limits of + noun phrase showing the boundary reached
There are limits to how much patience a teacher can have with students who refuse to listen.
there are limits to + how much/many
The human mind has limits when it comes to multitasking under pressure.
Amira knew her limits and stopped hiking before the steep climb became dangerous.
Every machine has limits beyond which it cannot operate safely.
- minimum
the smallest amount, opposite end of the scale
文法句型
the limits of something
limits to something
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form limits when referring to the outer edge of what is possible. The singular limit is more common for a single specific number or point.
常見錯誤
2. Rules, conditions, or factors that control what someone can do or how much of so
Rules, conditions, or factors that control what someone can do or how much of something is allowed.
The new environmental law places strict limits on how much waste factories can dump into the river.
place strict limits on + noun phrase
Age limits prevented Kwame from applying for the driving job because he was only nineteen.
age limits — common compound noun
During the drought, the government imposed limits on the amount of water each household could use.
The bank set a limit on how much cash Luisa could withdraw from the ATM in one day.
Airport security limits on liquids mean passengers cannot carry bottles larger than one hundred millilitres.
- restriction
more formal; often used in legal or official contexts
- constraint
suggests an external force that limits freedom more strongly
- cap
informal; refers to an upper limit on spending or quantity
- freedom
absence of restrictions or limits
文法句型
limits on something
impose/place/set limits
用法筆記
Frequently used with prepositions on (what is controlled) and to (the controlling range). Common in official and regulatory contexts.
常見錯誤
3. The official border or outer edge of a place such as a city, park, or country, o
The official border or outer edge of a place such as a city, park, or country, or the area that lies inside that border.
The river marks the northern limits of the national park on the map.
marks the limits of — verb + limits collocation for boundaries
Building a house more than three storeys tall is not allowed within the city limits.
within the city limits — fixed phrase
Hunting is prohibited outside the limits of the designated forest area.
Yumi lives just inside the town limits, so her postal address still uses the rural route number.
The ancient wall once defined the limits of the Roman settlement for traders and soldiers.
文法句型
the limits of [area]
within/outside the limits of
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense. Common with city, town, park, and property. The phrase 'within city limits' is a fixed expression meaning inside the official urban area.
常見錯誤
4. The largest or smallest amount, number, or level of something that is officially
The largest or smallest amount, number, or level of something that is officially allowed by law or regulation.
The speed limit on most highways in the area is sixty-five miles per hour.
speed limit — most common compound noun in this sense
The fishing regulations set a daily catch limit of three salmon per person.
catch limit — domain-specific collocation
Arjun checked the baggage weight limit before heading to the airport for his flight.
The casino imposed a betting limit of two hundred dollars per round at the poker table.
Many countries have an age limit of eighteen for buying alcohol in shops.
- minimum
the smallest allowed amount
文法句型
a limit on something
speed limit
age limit
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (conceptual maximum), this sense refers to a specific numerical or quantifiable figure set by an authority. Often compounded: speed limit, age limit, weight limit.
常見錯誤
5. In mathematics, the value that a function or number sequence gets closer and clo
In mathematics, the value that a function or number sequence gets closer and closer to as the input approaches a particular point or infinity.
In calculus class, Sophie learned how to calculate the limit of a function as x approaches zero.
the limit of [function] as [variable] approaches [value] — standard mathematical pattern
The limit of the sequence one over n as n goes to infinity is zero.
Kwame struggled with the concept of a limit until his tutor drew a graph showing how the curve levels off.
- convergence point
describes the value a sequence converges toward
文法句型
the limit of [function] as [variable] approaches [value]
用法筆記
A technical mathematical term. Outside of mathematics classes or academic contexts, this sense is rarely used.
常見錯誤
limits — verb
1. To keep something within a particular size, amount, or area; to prevent somethin
To keep something within a particular size, amount, or area; to prevent something from growing or increasing beyond a desired point.
The doctor told Kenji to limit his salt intake to no more than five grams per day.
limit + noun + to + amount
Nora limited her screen time to just one hour in the evening so she could focus on homework.
The conference room can only hold thirty people, so the organiser limited the guest list to key staff members.
Oliver limited his spending on takeaway food to save money for a new bicycle.
The teacher limited each student's presentation to five minutes so everyone would have time to speak.
文法句型
limit something
limit something to something
limit someone to something
用法筆記
Frequently followed by to to specify the boundary: limit something to a number, amount, or group. The passive form (be limited to) is very common in formal and official contexts.
常見錯誤
2. To clearly state or fix the outer boundaries, scope, or responsibilities of some
To clearly state or fix the outer boundaries, scope, or responsibilities of something, often in a legal or official document.
The employment contract clearly limits each employee's duties to the tasks listed in their job description.
limits + someone's duties + to — formal/legal pattern
The new law limits the power of the committee to make decisions without consulting the full board.
The will limits the inheritance to direct descendants only, excluding cousins and other relatives.
- unrestrict
to remove limits from; less common than 'free' or 'release'
文法句型
be limited by something
limit something (to someone)
用法筆記
This sense is more formal than sense 1. It emphasises defining or prescribing the boundaries of authority, responsibility, or rights, rather than merely reducing quantity. Common in legal, contractual, and constitutional contexts.