limit

limit — noun

1. the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that somethin

1.nounB1
Definition

the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that something can reach or that someone is allowed to reach.

Example

The speed limit on this road is fifty kilometres per hour.

speed limit: fixed maximum on roads

There is a strict limit on how much cash you can bring into the country.

limit on: preposition pattern showing what is restricted

Common collocations
  • speed limit
  • age limit
  • time limit
  • credit limit
  • upper limit
  • lower limit
  • set a limit
  • reach the limit
  • exceed the limit
  • limit on
Synonyms
  • maximum

    the highest possible number or amount, more mathematical than 'limit'

  • ceiling

    an upper limit, especially on prices, wages, or budgets

  • cap

    an upper limit, often used informally in business or government contexts

Antonyms
  • minimum

    the smallest possible or allowed amount

Grammar Patterns

limit + on + noun

the limit of + noun

Usage Note

This is the most general and frequent sense of 'limit'. Often appears with words like 'speed', 'age', 'time', 'credit' before it to specify what kind of limit is meant.

Common Mistakes

The speed limit drives at 60 km/h.
The speed limit is 60 km/h.
'speed limit' is a fixed value or rule, not an active thing that drives.
They put a limit of the spending.
They put a limit on the spending.
the correct preposition is 'on', not 'of'.

2. the point beyond which having more of something would be too much or would cause

2.nounB2
Definition

the point beyond which having more of something would be too much or would cause problems, used especially in talking about what is reasonable or acceptable behaviour.

Example

You can spend whatever you like on gifts, within reasonable limits.

within limits: fixed adverbial phrase showing acceptable range

Tuan knows his limits when it comes to drinking alcohol.

know your limits: fixed collocation about self-awareness

Common collocations
  • within limits
  • within reasonable limits
  • know your limits
  • have its limits
Synonyms
  • bounds

    limits of acceptable behaviour, more formal and often plural

  • boundaries

    limits defining what is acceptable, especially in relationships

Grammar Patterns

within limits

know one's limits

Usage Note

This sense almost always appears in the plural ('limits') or in the fixed phrases 'within limits' and 'know your limits'. Unlike sense 1, it does not refer to a specific number or measurement — it describes a general idea of what is reasonable.

Common Mistakes

Please stay within the limit of politeness.
Please stay within the limits of politeness.
this sense uses the plural 'limits' when referring to general bounds of acceptable behaviour.

3. the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fi

3.nounB2
Definition

the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fixed exclamatory phrases to show that something is unacceptable.

Example

When the Wi-Fi went down again, Faisal shouted, "That's the limit!"

that's the limit: fixed informal phrase expressing exasperation

The children's constant shouting was the limit for Aylin after a long workday.

Common collocations
  • that's the limit
  • be the limit
Synonyms
  • last straw

    the final small problem that makes someone lose patience

  • breaking point

    the moment when someone can no longer cope

Grammar Patterns

that's the limit

the limit for someone

Usage Note

This sense is restricted to informal, mostly British English. The phrase 'That's the limit!' functions as an exclamation of exasperation, similar in meaning to 'That's the last straw!' or 'I've had enough!'.

Common Mistakes

That is a limit!' (trying to express exasperation)
That's the limit!
the definite article 'the' is essential in this fixed expression.

4. the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while

4.nounB2
Definition

the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while they are driving a vehicle.

Example

The legal limit for drivers in this country is 0.05 per cent.

legal limit: fixed collocation in drink-driving law

Rachid was stopped by the police and found to be over the limit.

over the limit: prepositional phrase showing violation

Common collocations
  • legal limit
  • blood alcohol limit
  • drink-drive limit
  • over the limit
  • above the limit
  • below the limit
Synonyms
  • legal limit

    the precise synonym, used especially in official and news contexts

  • BAC limit

    technical term for blood alcohol concentration limit

Grammar Patterns

legal limit

over/above/below the limit

Usage Note

When used without modifiers in news or conversation ('the limit'), this sense is most commonly understood as referring to the blood alcohol limit for driving. The phrases 'over the limit' and 'below the limit' are especially frequent in this context.

Common Mistakes

He was driving over the alcohol limit.
He was driving over the limit.
in this context, 'the limit' alone is understood to mean the drink-driving limit.

5. the point at which a person's ability to continue, cope, or tolerate something c

5.nounB1
Definition

the point at which a person's ability to continue, cope, or tolerate something comes to an end because they have used all their strength, patience, or resources.

Example

After working twelve hours straight, Ezra had reached his limit.

reach one's limit: verb phrase showing end of endurance

The hikers were exhausted and knew they had reached the limit of their strength.

Common collocations
  • reach one's limit
  • push to the limit
  • the limit of
  • to the limit
  • a limit to
Synonyms
  • breaking point

    the specific moment when something fails or someone gives up

  • capacity

    the maximum amount someone can handle, more neutral in tone

Antonyms
  • infinity

    an endless, limitless amount or extent

Grammar Patterns

reach one's limit

the limit of + noun

to the limit

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (MAXIMUM ALLOWED): sense 1 is about external rules or physical capacities, while sense 5 is about personal endurance. Frequently used with verbs of reaching ('reach', 'hit', 'push to') and personal possessives ('my limit', 'her limit').

Common Mistakes

I have reached my limits of patience.
I have reached the limit of my patience.
when referring to a single person's capacity, use the singular 'limit'.
Idioms

be the limit

idiom

To be extremely annoying or unacceptable.

His constant complaining is the limit.

When she broke my phone, that was the limit.

push the boundaries/limits

idiom

To try to go beyond what is normally allowed or thought possible.

Maya pushes the boundaries of her art with bold colors.

Diego pushed his limits by running a marathon.

the sky’s the limit

idiom

There is no upper limit to what someone can achieve or do.

With her talent, the sky's the limit for Sara.

For a hard worker like Aiden, the sky's the limit.

within limits

idiom

To a certain extent, but not completely or without restrictions.

You can use my car, within limits.

The teacher allows group work within limits.

without limit/limits

idiom

Without any point where something must stop; unlimited.

The company's spending grew without limit.

Min lives her life without limits.

limit — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to an upper point beyond which something cannot or should not go, but they differ in context and formality. 'Maximum' is the most neutral and mathematical — it simply means the largest possible amount ('the maximum temperature today is 30°C'). 'Ceiling' is a metaphor from rooms, used in formal contexts like economics and business ('a price ceiling on rent'). 'Cap' is more informal and implies an official decision to stop something from growing ('the company put a cap on bonuses'). 'Boundary' is more physical and spatial, often marking the edge of an area or territory rather than a numeric limit ('the river forms the boundary between the two farms'). For numeric, allowable limits, use 'maximum'; for official upper limits in policy, 'ceiling' or 'cap'; for physical edges, 'boundary'.

maximum ↗ceiling ↗cap ↗boundary ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'limit' comes from Latin 'limes' (plural 'limites'), which originally meant a path or boundary between fields in Roman agriculture. This word passed into Old French as 'limite' and entered English around the 1300s with the sense of a border or frontier. Over time, the meaning expanded from physical boundaries to any kind of restriction — including time limits, spending limits, and limits of personal endurance. The mathematical concept of a limit (a value a function approaches) developed in the 1600s with the rise of calculus.