1
as in limits
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go
the language in the novel really is beyond the bounds of decency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in confines
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something
colored outside the bounds of the drawing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in defines
to mark the limits of
the country is bounded by water on two sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in borders
to serve as a border for
being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bounds
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
He was sprawled out and motionless out of bounds near the 1-yard line for a couple of minutes.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Out of bounds Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
From box jumps to lateral bounds to burpees, plyometric exercises can be…intimidating.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
Had the kick gone out of bounds on its own, Denver would have started at the 40.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
Limited food, poor sleep and unforgiving heat pushed the Hina tribe's mental bounds.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Burnsville led late and took an intentional safety, but its subsequent kickoff went out of bounds.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
Hooper reached over Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed for the catch and held on while getting both feed in bounds through contact.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
And speaking of guest stars doing all of the trio’s investigative work for them, Richard Kind then bounds into the room (as Richard Kinds are wont to do) with a huge development of his own.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Within moments, the rangy 29-year-old actor Harris Dickinson bounds down an exterior staircase and shakes my hand.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
While the immediate retooling impacts the auto workforce across the state, the shifts also affect the international competition where experts think China and Europe are leaps and bounds ahead of American EV technology and adoption.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
With technology growing by leaps and bounds every day, more and more tasks can be automated.
—Adam Coffey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The duo begin a frantic game of hide-and-seek, with the rabbit running from one side of the tree to the other as the fawn bounds after it.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
The jabs and insults of earlier Presidents, though, however rough, stayed within the bounds of democratic discourse, the basic rule being that the other side also gets to make its case.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
He was sprawled out and motionless out of bounds near the 1-yard line for a couple of minutes.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Out of bounds Terry Rozier #2 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2025 in Washington, DC.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
From box jumps to lateral bounds to burpees, plyometric exercises can be…intimidating.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
Had the kick gone out of bounds on its own, Denver would have started at the 40.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
Limited food, poor sleep and unforgiving heat pushed the Hina tribe's mental bounds.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Burnsville led late and took an intentional safety, but its subsequent kickoff went out of bounds.
—Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
Hooper reached over Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed for the catch and held on while getting both feed in bounds through contact.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
As my guide Nicolas Jeanroy preps his truffle gear, which looks like a collection of garden tools, his canine partner, Taïga, bounds up.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
And speaking of guest stars doing all of the trio’s investigative work for them, Richard Kind then bounds into the room (as Richard Kinds are wont to do) with a huge development of his own.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
Within moments, the rangy 29-year-old actor Harris Dickinson bounds down an exterior staircase and shakes my hand.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
While the immediate retooling impacts the auto workforce across the state, the shifts also affect the international competition where experts think China and Europe are leaps and bounds ahead of American EV technology and adoption.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Sep. 2025
With technology growing by leaps and bounds every day, more and more tasks can be automated.
—Adam Coffey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The duo begin a frantic game of hide-and-seek, with the rabbit running from one side of the tree to the other as the fawn bounds after it.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bounds. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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