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REFERENCE

restrict

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ɹiˈstɹɪkt// UK //ɹɪstɹˈɪkt// re·strict Academic Archaic General-service

v. to limit the size, amount, or range of something. You use this when you want to keep something within certain boundaries.

v. to limit or control the size, amount, or range of something; to keep within specific bounds. In a mathematical context, it refers to limiting the domain of a function to a smaller subset.


SIMPLE

The new law will restrict the sale of sugary drinks.

CONTEXTUAL

The hospital decided to restrict visiting hours to the afternoon to ensure patients got enough rest.

COMPLEX

By choosing to restrict the domain of the function to positive integers, the researchers were able to simplify the model without losing significant predictive power.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin restrictus, perfect passive participle of restringō (“draw back tightly; restrain, restrict”), from re- (“back, again”) + stringō (“press, tighten, compress”). Doublet of ristretto as an adjective.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; often used with the preposition 'to' to indicate the limit.

Pitfall

restrict from doingrestrict to doingWhile 'prevent' or 'stop' take 'from', 'restrict' typically takes 'to' when indicating a limit or boundary.

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