limited

limited — adjective

1. present or available only in a quantity that is not enough for what people need

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

present or available only in a quantity that is not enough for what people need or want

Example

The refugee camp had only limited supplies of clean water.

limited + uncountable noun (supplies, time, space)

With her limited budget, Nala could not afford to rent a bigger apartment.

Common collocations
  • limited resources
  • limited time
  • limited space
  • limited budget
  • limited number of
  • limited supply
  • limited options
Synonyms
  • restricted

    emphasises a rule or boundary that keeps something within a range

  • finite

    more mathematical or technical; suggests a measurable endpoint

  • scarce

    stronger sense of shortage; implies what exists is barely enough

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + limited

limited + noun

Usage Note

Often modified by adverbs such as 'very', 'quite', 'extremely', or 'severely' to indicate the degree of scarcity.

Common Mistakes

There are limited of seats left.
There are a limited number of seats left.
'limited' is an adjective; use 'a limited number of' or 'limited + noun' directly.
The time is limit.
The time is limited.
The adjective is 'limited', not 'limit'.

2. kept within an established boundary of size, time, number, or scope — for exampl

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

kept within an established boundary of size, time, number, or scope — for example, a limited-edition product, a limited-time offer, or access limited to certain people

Example

The museum released a limited-edition print signed by the artist.

limited-edition (compound adjective for exclusive items)

This special price is available for a limited time only.

limited time (time-bound offer)

Common collocations
  • limited edition
  • limited time
  • limited to
  • limited capacity
  • limited access
  • limited seating
Synonyms
  • restricted

    emphasises an imposed rule or limitation

  • confined

    suggests physical or spatial boundaries

  • fixed

    implies a definite, unchangeable upper limit

Antonyms
  • unrestricted

    with no boundaries or rules limiting access or use

Grammar Patterns

limited to + noun

limited + noun

Usage Note

When followed by 'to', the phrase 'limited to' specifies the exact boundary. Frequently used in notices and official writing (e.g., 'limited to 20 guests').

Common Mistakes

The offer is limited for 24 hours.
The offer is limited to 24 hours.
Use 'limited to', not 'limited for', when stating the boundary.

3. written after a company's official title to indicate that shareholders are legal

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

written after a company's official title to indicate that shareholders are legally responsible only up to the amount of money they put into the business

Example

Sahil works for a small engineering firm called Patel Engineering Ltd.

Company Name + Ltd.

The legal name of the business is GreenTech Solutions Limited.

Common collocations
  • Limited (Ltd.)
  • registered as a limited company
  • private limited company

Grammar Patterns

[Company Name] + Limited

[Company Name] + Ltd.

Usage Note

Common in British, Australian, and many Commonwealth legal systems. In American English, the equivalent is 'Inc.' (Incorporated) or 'LLC'. 'Limited' is always written with a capital L when part of a registered company name.

Common Mistakes

I work for a limited company called Smith limited.
I work for a company called Smith Ltd.
The full form 'Limited' or the abbreviation 'Ltd.' is part of the official company name and must be capitalised.

4. showing a narrow range of knowledge, skill, or creativity; not as good, broad, o

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing a narrow range of knowledge, skill, or creativity; not as good, broad, or imaginative as expected

Example

The critic described the director's latest film as technically solid but artistically very limited.

criticising creative work as limited

Lan's cooking skills are limited to boiling rice and frying eggs.

limited to + basic skills only

Common collocations
  • limited range
  • limited understanding
  • limited knowledge
  • limited skills
  • limited view
  • limited imagination
  • limited vocabulary
Synonyms
  • narrow

    focuses on lack of breadth or range

  • mediocre

    stronger value judgment; means of only average or below-average quality

  • restricted

    sometimes overlaps, but 'restricted' more often refers to imposed boundaries than personal shortcomings

Antonyms
  • broad

    covering a wide range of topics or skills

  • comprehensive

    thorough and covering all aspects

Grammar Patterns

limited + noun (range, understanding, view)

limited to + basic/simple + noun

Usage Note

In this sense, 'limited' has a negative, critical tone. It implies that something or someone falls short of a reasonable standard. Often appears in evaluations of people, art, thinking, or skills. Not interchangeable with 'restricted' in this critical sense.

Common Mistakes

He has a limited English.
He has limited English.' or 'His English is limited.
No article before 'limited' when modifying a skill noun directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe something that is not abundant, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Limited' is the most neutral and general — it simply states that there is not much of something (e.g., limited time, limited resources). 'Restricted' suggests an external rule or boundary that keeps something within a range (e.g., restricted access). 'Finite' is more technical and implies a mathematically measurable endpoint (e.g., finite supply of oil). 'Scarce' carries a stronger sense of shortage, often with the implication that the available amount is barely enough (e.g., scarce drinking water during a drought). 'Meagre' is the most judgmental; it adds the idea that the amount is disappointingly or pitifully small (e.g., a meagre salary). For everyday use when the speaker simply wants to state that something is not abundant, 'limited' is the safest and most widely understood choice.

limited ↗restrictedfinite ↗scarce ↗meagre ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • limited to
  • limited number of
  • limited time only
  • limited edition
  • limited company
  • limited resources

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'limited' comes from the noun 'limit', which entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'limite', itself from Latin 'limes' (meaning 'boundary' or 'frontier'). The adjective form emerged in the early 1700s. The business sense — a company where liability is 'limited' to shareholders' investments — dates from the late 1800s, when British company law created this structure.