reached its capacity

USAGE SUMMARY

"reached its capacity" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to something that has reached its maximum limit, capacity, or capability. Example: The stadium reached its capacity as thousands of fans poured in to watch the championship game. In this example, "reached its capacity" means that the stadium is now full and cannot accommodate any more people. It has reached its maximum limit in terms of the number of people it can hold.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Another Open employee estimated that about 100 people were allowed in Armstrong around 6 p.m. before it reached its capacity.

The New York Times

ON THE LAST FRIDAY IN JULY, STAY HOME -- Interstate 95 has been chronically crowded since it reached its capacity in the 1970's, according to the Department of Transportation.

The New York Times

By contrast, the Acorn's accounts for 2013-14 [pdf], its first year of operation, say it had reached its capacity of 24 pupils by July 2014.

The Guardian

All environmental samples were tested either in the CTDPH laboratory or, when it had reached its capacity, a contract laboratory in Texas.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

McALLEN, Texas — By the time Beto O'Rourke arrived at the historic Cine El Rey theater for his first campaign speech of the day, it had already reached its capacity of 500.

HuffPost

Both the mayor and Mr. Hess expressed dissatisfaction with the company's explanation that it decided on the reductions because power consumption had nearly reached its capacity, especially since the city had received assurances that it would spend $315 million to upgrade its systems to prevent a recurrence of last year's blackout.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

As a result, when a WSP reaches its capacity, it must start blocking calls, as it has no available channels.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

But some studies of traffic on the bridge suggest that it will reach its capacity as early as 2015, said Mark Butler, a spokesman for Transport Canada, a government agency.

The New York Times

Despite them co-promoting the fight themselves, sluggish ticket sales suggest it will struggle to reach its capacity of 20,000.

The Guardian - Sport

The conventional beam-column joint reached its expected capacity but wide beam-column joint did not reach its capacity.

Engineering Structures

Now the park green easily reaches its capacity — about 10,000 people — for vintage comedies, musicals and other classics.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "reached its capacity", ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether you're referring to a physical space, a system, or a person's abilities.

Common error

Avoid using "reached its capacity" when a more specific description is appropriate. For instance, instead of saying a team "reached its capacity", consider specifying whether it's regarding workload, skill level, or resources.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reached its capacity" functions as a verb phrase indicating the attainment of a maximum limit or full state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability, as evidenced by the numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reached its capacity" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase indicating that something has attained its maximum limit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suggests its frequency is very common. Predominantly found in contexts like news media and scientific publications, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse situations. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify the subject and context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "reached its limit" or "filled to capacity" may offer more precise nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached its limit

Emphasizes the attainment of a boundary or restriction that cannot be exceeded.

reached its maximum

Highlights that the highest possible extent or degree has been achieved.

filled to capacity

Indicates that something is completely full and unable to accommodate more.

at full stretch

Implies that resources or abilities are being used to their fullest extent.

maxed out

Suggests that a resource or system has been pushed to its absolute limit.

saturated

Indicates that a space or system is so full that no more can be added or absorbed.

tapped out

Signals that resources have been completely exhausted.

overwhelmed

Conveys a state of being inundated or exceeding the ability to cope.

stretched to the breaking point

Highlights a situation where resources are under extreme strain and near collapse.

at its saturation point

Emphasizes that no more of something can be dissolved, absorbed, or tolerated.

FAQs

How can I use "reached its capacity" in a sentence?

You can use "reached its capacity" to indicate that something is full or has attained its maximum limit. For example, "The server "reached its capacity" during peak hours, causing delays."

What are some alternatives to "reached its capacity"?

Some alternatives include "reached its limit", "filled to capacity", or "at full stretch", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "reached to its capacity"?

No, the correct phrasing is "reached its capacity", without the preposition "to". "Reached to" is redundant in this context.

What does it mean when something has "reached its carrying capacity"?

In ecological contexts, "reached its carrying capacity" refers to the maximum population size of a species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given available resources.