limit
limit — noun
1. the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that somethin
the highest or most extreme point — in size, quantity, or degree — that something can reach or that someone is allowed to reach.
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
Isabela reached the credit limit on her first bank card.
The city council set a noise limit for late-night events.
Our budget has an upper limit of five thousand dollars for the project.
- minimum
the smallest possible or allowed amount
文法句型
limit + on + noun
the limit of + noun
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. the point beyond which having more of something would be too much or would cause
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.
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
The doctor told Asher to eat sweets occasionally, but within limits.
Every close relationship has its limits on what behaviour is acceptable.
Within reasonable limits, it is fine to stay up late on weekends.
- bounds
limits of acceptable behaviour, more formal and often plural
- boundaries
limits defining what is acceptable, especially in relationships
文法句型
within limits
know one's limits
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fi
the highest degree of annoyance or frustration a person can tolerate, used in fixed exclamatory phrases to show that something is unacceptable.
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.
Leaving without saying goodbye to anyone — now that really is the limit!
Rachid had already waited an hour, and the extra delay was the limit.
- last straw
the final small problem that makes someone lose patience
- breaking point
the moment when someone can no longer cope
文法句型
that's the limit
the limit for someone
用法筆記
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!'.
常見錯誤
4. the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while
the maximum concentration of alcohol legally permitted in a person's blood while they are driving a vehicle.
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
After two glasses of wine, Jisoo was worried she might be above the limit.
Many countries have lowered the blood alcohol limit in recent years.
- legal limit
the precise synonym, used especially in official and news contexts
- BAC limit
technical term for blood alcohol concentration limit
文法句型
legal limit
over/above/below the limit
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
5. the point at which a person's ability to continue, cope, or tolerate something c
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.
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.
Sophia's patience finally reached its limit with the slow internet connection.
Everyone has a limit to how much stress they can handle.
The team pushed themselves to the limit to finish the project on time.
- breaking point
the specific moment when something fails or someone gives up
- capacity
the maximum amount someone can handle, more neutral in tone
- infinity
an endless, limitless amount or extent
文法句型
reach one's limit
the limit of + noun
to the limit
用法筆記
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').
常見錯誤
limit — verb
1. to keep something within a fixed amount, level, or range so that it does not gro
to keep something within a fixed amount, level, or range so that it does not grow too large or go beyond what is wanted — for example, limiting how much you spend, how fast a car can go, or how many people can enter a room.
The school limits the number of students in each class to twenty-five.
limit + noun + to + number: pattern for specifying restriction
Sana limited her screen time to just one hour each day.
The government introduced new laws to limit carbon emissions from factories.
Please limit your speech to five minutes so everyone gets a turn.
Élise limited herself to just two cups of coffee each morning.
文法句型
limit + noun
limit + noun + to + noun/gerund
limit oneself + to + noun/gerund
用法筆記
The preposition 'to' is essential when stating the specific restriction: 'limit something to something'. The reflexive pattern 'limit oneself to' is common for describing personal choices about diet, spending, or habits.