Limited Meaning
Limited Definition & Usage
Restricted in scope, quantity, or extent.
Examples
- "The store has a limited selection of products in stock."
- "We have a limited amount of time, so please be brief."
- "His knowledge on the subject is quite limited, so he needs help."
- "Tickets for the concert are limited, so get yours soon."
- "The limited resources available make it difficult to complete the project on time."
To place boundaries or restrictions on something.
Examples
- "They decided to limit the number of attendees at the event."
- "The government has limited access to certain information for security reasons."
- "The policy aims to limit the amount of plastic waste in the community."
- "She has been asked to limit her speaking time to five minutes."
- "The new law limits the amount of carbon emissions allowed by factories."
Cultural Context
The word 'limited' comes from the Latin root 'limitare', meaning 'to set boundaries'. It is often used in business, law, and everyday conversations to denote restrictions, either self-imposed or externally enforced. It is also frequently used in marketing to create a sense of urgency or exclusivity (e.g., 'limited-time offer').
The Limited Time Offer
Story
The Limited Time Offer
It was the day of the big sale at the downtown electronics store, and everyone knew that the hottest new smartphone was about to go on sale. The store had only a limited number of units, and the buzz about the 'limited-time offer' had spread like wildfire. People were lining up early, hoping to get their hands on the device. Sara, a young professional, had been planning for weeks to buy the phone, but she knew that the store would limit the number of units each person could purchase. As she stood in line, she thought about how the limited availability made it all the more tempting. 'I really hope they don't sell out before I get in,' she muttered under her breath. Meanwhile, inside the store, James, the store manager, was already preparing for the inevitable chaos. 'We’ve limited the number of phones per person to two,' he explained to his staff. 'This is to ensure that as many customers as possible get the chance to buy one.' Sara was finally called up to the counter, and she quickly grabbed the device, careful not to exceed her purchase limit. But as she was about to pay, she overheard a customer next to her complaining about the limited stock. 'Why do they always do this?' the customer grumbled. 'It’s just a marketing tactic to make us think there’s not enough.' James overheard the conversation and smiled. 'I know what you mean, but sometimes, the scarcity is real. In fact, we’re only getting 50 units today.' He paused and added, 'But there are always other opportunities to buy if you miss out today.' Sara, who had been slightly anxious about the shortage, felt relieved and pleased to have secured her phone. But as she walked out of the store, she noticed a sign outside that said 'Limited-time offer: 20% off for the first 100 customers!' It was a phrase she had seen countless times before, but today, it felt more real to her than ever. It wasn’t just about the phone; it was about the scarcity and the thrill of the chase that made the offer so enticing. By the end of the day, the store had sold out of the phones, and the promotion had officially ended. But as Sara looked at her new phone, she couldn’t help but reflect on how 'limited' things had turned out to be. It was a lesson in both the value of scarcity and the reality of setting boundaries in life, whether it was for personal goals, resources, or time.
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