boundary

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A line, fence or natural feature that shows where one area ends and another begins.

   Grammar: Countable: a boundary, several boundaries; often followed by between or of.

   Patterns

   • the boundary between something and something
   • the boundary of something

   A low stone wall marks the boundary between the two farms.

   The river forms the northern boundary of the park.

   Surveyors checked the exact boundary of the lot.

2. 2nouncountable

   A limit on what is acceptable, allowed or possible in behavior, ideas or a relationship.

   Grammar: Often used with set, respect or cross: set a boundary.

   Patterns

   • set boundaries with someone
   • cross a boundary

   Parents need to set clear boundaries for screen time.

   He crossed a boundary when he read her private messages.

   Good friends respect each other's boundaries.

3. 3nouncountablesportBritish

   In cricket, the edge of the field or a hit that sends the ball past it to score four or six runs.

   Grammar: Countable and used with hit: he hit three boundaries.

   Patterns

   • hit a boundary

   The batter hit a boundary off the first ball.

   The ball raced over the boundary for four runs.

   Three boundaries in one over changed the game.

Word forms

Common combinations

set a boundary

It is healthy to set a boundary when work spills into your evenings.

cross a boundary

The hikers crossed the boundary into the national park.

respect boundaries

A good neighbor respects boundaries and asks before borrowing things.

county boundary

The road follows the county boundary for several miles.

push the boundaries

The young artist likes to push the boundaries of painting.

personal boundaries

Therapists often talk about personal boundaries.

Synonyms and how they differ

border

Border is the usual word for the line between countries or regions, while boundary also covers property, ideas and behavior.

limit

Limit is the maximum allowed amount or extent and need not be a line on a map.

frontier

Frontier suggests the far edge of a settled region or of knowledge, and has a more adventurous tone.

perimeter

Perimeter is the whole outer edge of an area, such as a fenced site, rather than the line between two areas.

Word family

bound verb

to form the edge of something

boundless adjective

without any limit

unbounded adjective

having no limits

bounded adjective

having limits or a fixed edge

boundlessly adverb

without end or limit

Commonly confused: boundary or boundry? boundary or border?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “boundary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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