1 B2 informal
In hunting or fishing, to catch or shoot the maximum number of animals or fish permitted by law for a single day.
"We limited out on trout by noon and decided to head back to camp early."
limit out
B2 informal intransitive
To reach the maximum legal number of fish or game that a hunter or angler is permitted to catch in one day.
In plain English
To catch as many fish or shoot as many animals as the law allows for one day.
What does "limit out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To reach the outer limit and go no further — fairly transparent in context.
Actually means
To catch as many fish or shoot as many animals as the law allows for one day.
Usage tip
Primarily a North American hunting and fishing term. Very specific to that context and unlikely to be encountered outside of it. The term refers to daily bag limits or catch limits set by wildlife regulations.
Words that pair with "limit out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fish ducks deer quota hunt catch bag
How to conjugate "limit out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
limit out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
limits out
he/she/it
Past simple
limited out
yesterday
Past participle
limited out
have + pp
-ing form
limiting out
continuous
Hear "limit out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "limit out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "limit out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
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