Bound vs Restricted

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Bound

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

Restricted

Top 2,000 (common)

	Bound	Restricted
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/baʊnd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/baʊnd/"]/	🇬🇧 //rɪˈstrɪktɪd// 🇺🇸 //rɪˈstrɪktɪd//
Meaning	To move quickly or jump in a way that shows energy.	Limited or controlled in some way.
Example	She felt bound by the promises she had made to her friends.	Access to the laboratory is restricted to authorized personnel only.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	adjective
Collocations	be, seem, almost, be, feel, become, absolutely, irrevocably, by law, by, be, homeward, outward, for, be, homeward, outward, for	restricted access, restricted area, restricted information, restricted zone, restricted diet
Antonyms	slow, linger, hesitate	unrestricted, open, free
Common mistakes	Used incorrectly as a synonym for 'bound' in legal contexts (e.g., confused with 'bound by law')., Confused with 'bounced' in context of movement., Mixing with 'bond,' which refers to a connection or relationship.	Confusing 'restricted' with 'restrictive', which has a different meaning., Using 'restrict' instead of 'restricted' when a past participle is needed., Omitting the necessary noun after 'restricted' in a sentence.
Usage notes	Used in both physical and metaphorical contexts. Commonly used in literary texts to describe movement. Less appropriate in casual spoken language.	Use 'restricted' in formal or neutral contexts. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing specific limitations.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Bound for the tourney yourself?

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

All bound for Libya.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

Bound for the tourney yourself?

Bound

Restricted.

Restricted

Frequently asked questions: Bound vs Restricted

What's the difference between Bound and Restricted?

Bound: To move quickly or jump in a way that shows energy. Restricted: Limited or controlled in some way.

Can you show an example of each?

Bound: She felt bound by the promises she had made to her friends. Restricted: Access to the laboratory is restricted to authorized personnel only.

Can I use Bound and Restricted interchangeably?

Not always. Bound and Restricted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.