# limit

/ˈɫɪmət/ (US) · /lˈɪmɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/limit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a boundary or restriction

noun · CEFR B1

the greatest amount or level of something that is allowed or possible.

For teachers: the final or furthest point, edge, or boundary beyond which something does not or may not extend.

- There is a strict speed limit of thirty miles per hour on this road.
- The legal team argued that the company had reached the upper limit of its borrowing capacity under the current credit agreement.

### 2. mathematical value

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a value that a series of numbers gets closer and closer to.

For teachers: a fixed value that a sequence or function approaches as the variable or index increases or decreases.

- The students learned how to calculate the limit of the function as x approaches zero.
- The proof demonstrates that the sequence has a finite limit, confirming that the series converges rather than diverges toward infinity.

### 3. an annoying person

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · British English

someone or something that is very annoying or hard to tolerate.

For teachers: a person or situation that is perceived as exasperating or intolerable.

- He really is the limit sometimes, always arriving late and forgetting his wallet.
- Her constant interruptions during the briefing were quite the limit, testing the patience of even the most composed managers.

### 4. to restrict

verb · CEFR B1

to stop something from increasing or to keep it below a certain point.

For teachers: to set a boundary or restriction on the amount, size, or range of something.

- You should try to limit the amount of sugar you eat every day.
- The government decided to limit the number of new visas issued this year to manage the sudden influx of seasonal workers.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The speed limit on this road is fifty miles per hour.
- The bank set a strict limit on how much money customers could withdraw from the machine each day.
- While the human body has a biological limit for endurance, psychological factors often determine whether an athlete can push through the final stages of a race.

---

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.