US /kənˈstreɪn/ UK /kənˈstreɪn/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to compel or restrict within limits

    A tight budget will constrain the project's scope.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to compel or restrict... compelrestrictlimitconfinerestrainforcecoerce
Word family
Forms constrainingconstrains
Derived forms constraintconstrainedconstrainableconstrainer
Related forms restrainstrainstrictconstrictconstringe

Etymology

From Old French constreindre, from Latin constringere ('to bind together, restrain'), from con- ('together') + stringere ('to draw tight, bind').

View etymology graph ->

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.