Meaning & use
internal constraints
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Meanings
nounplural
limits that come from inside a person, group, or system rather than from outside forces.
Grammar: Always plural in this sense; use 'an internal constraint' for one single limit.
Patterns
- internal constraints on something
- internal constraints of something
- face internal constraints
The team wanted to expand, but internal constraints on spending stopped them.
Her fear of failure was one of the internal constraints holding her back.
The report describes the internal constraints of the current health system.
nounpluraltechnicalcomputing
fixed rules or conditions within a computer system or model that limit what it can do.
Grammar: Used in technical contexts; still plural, but can be counted with 'a' in the singular.
Patterns
- internal constraints in a system
- apply internal constraints
- satisfy internal constraints
The software must work within internal constraints such as memory size.
These internal constraints prevent the model from producing impossible results.
Word forms
| singular | internal constraint |
|---|
Common combinations
- face internal constraints
- Small firms face internal constraints that larger companies do not.
- internal constraints on growth
- There are internal constraints on growth inside the organization.
- remove internal constraints
- New leadership helped remove internal constraints on creativity.
- overcome internal constraints
- She overcame internal constraints like self-doubt and lack of confidence.
Synonyms and how they differ
- limitations
- Broader and more common; it can refer to any kind of limit, not only ones coming from inside.
- restrictions
- Often suggests rules made by people or authorities, while internal constraints may be natural or psychological.
Opposites
Word family
- constrain verb
- to limit or restrict something.
- constraint noun
- a single limit or restriction.
- constrained adjective
- limited or forced to act in a certain way.
Commonly confused: internal constraints or restraints?
internal constraints vs restraints
Restraints are usually physical or legal controls that stop movement or action, while constraints are limits on what is possible.
Practice
The company's growth was slowed by ______ such as outdated equipment and poor communication.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'internal constraints' fits because the sentence lists more than one limit. 'Internal constraint' is singular and would need 'an' or 'a'. 'Internally' is an adverb and cannot modify the noun, and 'constrained' is an adjective or verb form, not a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internal constraints”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.