Limit | Mean of limit in English Dictionary

/ˈlɪmət/

• Noun
• a point beyond which it is not possible to go
1. He has reached the limit of his endurance.
2. In training, she pushed her body to its physical limits.
3. He tries to be creative within the limits of conventional journalism.
4. Space travel tests the (outer) limits of human capabilities.
5. It's important to exercise, but you need to know your limits. [=you need to know how much you are able to do]
6. I'm trying to be patient with him, but I've just about reached my limit. [=reached the point where I can no longer be patient]
7. There are limits to what I can put up with from him!
8. There's no limit to what we can accomplish [=we can accomplish anything] if we work hard enough.
9. There seems to be no limit to his enthusiasm. = His enthusiasm seems to know no limit(s).
• a point beyond which someone is not allowed to go
1. Parents need to set limits for their children. = Parents need to set/place/impose limits on (the behavior of) their children.
2. They must not go beyond these limits. = They must not exceed these limits.
• an amount or number that is the highest or lowest allowed
1. Two drinks is my limit. [=I stop after having two drinks]
2. When you take the test, you'll have a time limit. [=you will have to complete the test within a certain amount of time]
3. The lower age limit for voting is 18. [=you cannot vote unless you are at least 18 years old]

• an area or line that is at the outer edge of something
1. There are three high schools within the city limits. [=within the city]
2. They ventured far beyond the limits of civilization.
3. at the outer limits of the solar system
• having more alcohol in the blood than is legally allowed for someone who is driving
1. He was arrested for driving over the limit.
• a very annoying or upsetting person or thing
1. He keeps forgetting his wife's birthday: he really is the limit! [=too much]
2. He forgot his wife's birthday again. Isn't that the limit!
• to the greatest possible point
1. Our resources have been stretched to the limit. [=we have used all of our resources]
2. My schedule is filled to the limit. [=my schedule is completely filled]
• without going beyond what is considered reasonable or allowable
1. They told us that we could do whatever we liked, within (certain) limits.
• without being controlled or stopped
1. allowing costs to increase without limit
• Verb
• to stop or prevent an increase in (something)
1. We need to find ways to limit expenses.
2. He tried to limit the damage to his reputation by blaming other people.
3. A factor limiting our country's economic performance is its lack of resources.
4. His political enemies have tried to limit [=restrict] his power.
• to prevent (something) from being larger, longer, more, etc.
1. The hospital limits [=restricts] visits to 30 minutes.
2. Our lack of money limits our options.
3. Visits are limited to 30 minutes. [=visits must not be longer than 30 minutes]
4. The damage from the fire was limited to the rear of the building. [=only the rear of the building was damaged by the fire]
• to stop (someone) from having or doing more
1. Our lack of money limits [=restricts] us to fewer options.
2. Because of our lack of money, we have to limit ourselves to fewer options.
3. Guests are limited to visits of no longer than 30 minutes.
4. We are limited to fewer options by our lack of money.