# bounds

/ˈbaʊndz/ (US) · /bˈaʊndz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bounds
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. limits or boundaries

noun · CEFR B2

the limits of what is possible, allowed, or acceptable.

For teachers: the territorial or conceptual limits of an area or activity; often used in the plural to denote the extent of a property or a field of study.

- The new evidence was beyond the bounds of what the scientists expected.
- The investigation remained strictly within the bounds of the law, ensuring that every piece of evidence collected would be admissible in court.

### 2. sports/rules

noun · CEFR B1

the area where you are allowed to play in a game.

For teachers: the legal playing area of a field or court in sports; typically used in the phrase 'out of bounds'.

- The ball went out of bounds, so the other team got a turn.
- The referee ruled that the player's foot had touched the line, declaring the ball out of bounds and awarding possession to the opposing side.

### 3. to jump or run

verb · CEFR B2

to move with big, energetic jumps.

For teachers: to move by leaping; to walk or run with leaping strides. The third-person singular present form.

- The dog bounds across the field whenever he sees a squirrel.
- The deer bounds effortlessly over the fallen logs, disappearing into the thicket before the hikers can reach for their cameras.

### 4. leaps

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

big, jumping movements.

For teachers: plural noun referring to a series of upward leaps or springy steps.

- With a few quick bounds, the cat reached the top of the fence.
- The athlete covered the final meters in great, powerful bounds, crossing the finish line well ahead of the rest of the pack.

## Examples

- His rude behavior was beyond the bounds of politeness.
- The committee decided that the new proposal was well within the bounds of the current budget.
- While the artist pushed the limits of the medium, her latest installation remains within the bounds of traditional aesthetic theory.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.