Confines — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb plural noun /ˈkän-ˌfīn/ (noun) /kən-ˈfīn/ (verb) con·fine

Meaning & Definition of Confines

Confines (noun)

  1. something (such as borders or walls) that encloses; also, something that restrains
  2. scope
  3. restriction

Confines (verb)

  1. border
  2. to hold within a location
  3. imprison

Confines (plural noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go

    "within the confines of the city"

    similar: bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, end, extent, limit, limitation, line, termination
    related: extremity, fag end, terminus, border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge, outside, bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

  2. the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something

    "outside the confines of the school walls"

    similar: border, borderline, bound, boundary, brim, circumference, compass, edge, edging, end, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge
    related: ambit, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, ceiling, maximum, demarcation, extent, limitation, measure, mere, restriction, termination, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore
    near: center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within

  3. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "that's beyond the confines of my power as dean of the college"

    similar: ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, dimension(s), extent, range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width
    related: gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain, frontier, horizon, panorama

Confines (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to set bounds or an upper limit for

    "will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss"

    similar: caps, circumscribes, holds down, limits, restricts
    related: bars, blocks, hampers, hinders, impedes, obstructs, constricts, contracts, lessens, narrows, pinches, squeezes, tightens, quells, represses, suppresses, numbers, modifies, qualifies
    opposite: exceeds
    near: broadens, expands, widens, overextends, overreaches

  2. to put in or as if in prison

    "the accused was confined until the trial could take place"

    similar: commits, immures, imprisons, incarcerates, interns, jails, jugs, locks (up)
    related: constrains, limits, restrains, restricts, shuts, bars, gates, apprehends, arrests, busts (slang), captures, catches, detains, nabs, picks up, pinches, seizes, impresses, shanghais, holds, impounds, keeps, binds, enchains, fetters, handcuffs, manacles, shackles, trammels
    opposite: discharges, frees, liberates, releases
    near: emancipates, enfranchises, manumits, unbinds, uncages, unchains, unfetters

Related Entry: Confine (verb)

Confine is a different word from Confines. The synonyms below are for confine, not for confines.

  1. to set bounds or an upper limit for

    "will confine my remarks to the subject we came here to discuss"

    similar: cap, circumscribe, hold down, limit, restrict
    related: bar, block, hamper, hinder, impede, obstruct, constrict, contract, lessen, narrow, pinch, squeeze, tighten, quell, repress, suppress, number, modify, qualify
    opposite: exceed
    near: broaden, expand, widen, overextend, overreach

  2. to put in or as if in prison

    "the accused was confined until the trial could take place"

    similar: commit, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up)
    related: constrain, limit, restrain, restrict, shut, bar, gate, apprehend, arrest, bust (slang), capture, catch, detain, nab, pick up, pinch, seize, impress, shanghai, hold, impound, keep, bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel
    opposite: discharge, free, liberate, release
    near: emancipate, enfranchise, manumit, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Confines

The most common words with a similar meaning to Confines:

bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, end, extent, limit, limitation, line, termination, border, borderline, brim, circumference, compass, edge, edging, frame, fringe, hem, margin, perimeter, periphery, rim, skirt, skirting, verge, ambit, amplitude, breadth, dimension(s), range, reach, realm, scope, sweep, width, caps, circumscribes, holds down

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Confines

Words with the opposite meaning of Confines:

exceeds, discharges, frees, liberates, releases

Related Words for Confines

extremity, fag end, terminus, outside, bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall, brink, crest, curb, cusp, lip, maximum, demarcation, measure, mere, restriction, borderland, frontier, march, outskirts, pale, selvage, lap, shore, gamut

Near Antonyms of Confines

center, core, heart, inner, inside, interior, middle, within, broadens, expands, widens, overextends, overreaches, emancipates, enfranchises, manumits, unbinds, uncages, unchains, unfetters

Word Forms of Confines

Inflections: confined, confining

Derived words: confiner (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Confines

Middle English confynyes, borrowed from Latin confīnia, plural of confīnium "common boundary, limit, border," from confīnis "having a common boundary" (from con- con- + -fīnis, adjective derivative of fīnis "boundary, limit, ending") + -ium, suffix of compounded nouns final:1

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Confines

What does "Confines" mean?

"Confines" means something (such as borders or walls) that encloses; also, something that restrains. As an a noun, a verb and a plural noun, it is defined as: something (such as borders or walls) that encloses; also, something that restrains. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Confines"?

Other words for "Confines" include bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, end, extent, limit and limitation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Confines" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Confines"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Confines". Common alternatives include bound, boundary, cap, ceiling, end, extent, limit, limitation, line and termination.

What is the opposite of "Confines"?

Antonyms of "Confines" include exceeds, discharges, frees, liberates and releases. Near antonyms include center, core, heart and inner.

How do you use "Confines" in a sentence?

Examples of "Confines" in a sentence: "within the confines of the city"; "outside the confines of the school walls"; "that's beyond the confines of my power as dean of the college".

Is "Confines" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Confines" can be used as a noun, a verb and a plural noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Confines"?

"Confines" is pronounced /ˈkän-ˌfīn/ as a noun and /kən-ˈfīn/ as a verb and divided into syllables as con·fine.

What is the origin of the word "Confines"?

"Confines" comes from Middle English confynyes, borrowed from Latin confīnia, plural of confīnium "common boundary, limit, border," from confīnis "having a common boundary" (from con- con- + -fīnis, adjective derivative of fīnis "boundary, limit, ending") + -ium, suffix of compounded nouns final:1. First known use: 15th century.