limped; limping; limps
1
a
: to walk with an uneven and usually slow movement or gait
especially
: to walk favoring one leg
The injured player limped off the field.
b
: to go unsteadily : falter
After which the conversation limped for some time …—
Henry Green
Henry Green2
: to proceed slowly or with difficulty
The ship limped back to port.
limper
noun
plural limpers
: an uneven movement or gait : a favoring of one leg while walking
1
a
: lacking firm texture, substance, or structure
limp curtains
her hair hung limp about her shoulders
b
: not stiff or rigid
a book in a limp binding
2
b
: lacking in strength, vigor, or firmness : spiritless
limply
adverb
limpness
noun
Examples of limp in a Sentence
Verb
The injured player limped off the court.
The dog was limping slightly.
The damaged ship limped back to port.
The company has somehow managed to limp along despite the bad economy.
Noun
We noticed that the dog was walking with a slight limp.
Adjective
He gave me a very limp handshake.
This plant isn't doing well—look how limp the leaves are.
Her hair hung limp around her shoulders.
I suddenly went limp and collapsed on the floor.
He was limp with fatigue.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
Monk returns after early exit Moments after Irving left the court, Monk limped off the floor late in the first quarter.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
One walked with a fake limp, and others wore fake hands—anything to avoid detection from the police.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Paul Clement, Ho’s answer to a legal problem in which the prosecution against Adams went limp in its offensive, took the Department of Justice’s request to dismiss charges to the next level in his recommendation.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
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Verb
Seeded fourth in the tournament, East Grand Forks (16-13-2) limped into the postseason, going 2-7-1 in its final 10 regular-season games, albeit against a tough schedule that included Warroad twice, Moorhead, Wayzata and an 11-5 loss to St. Cloud Cathedral on Jan. 31.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2025
Monk returns after early exit Moments after Irving left the court, Monk limped off the floor late in the first quarter.
—Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
The user says in the post that the boy suffered bruises all over his body and walks with a limp.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
One walked with a fake limp, and others wore fake hands—anything to avoid detection from the police.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
When the males clasped the female bodies, the female appeared to go limp and the color drained from their bodies, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
Paul Clement, Ho’s answer to a legal problem in which the prosecution against Adams went limp in its offensive, took the Department of Justice’s request to dismiss charges to the next level in his recommendation.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Cite this Entry
“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
limp
1 of 3 verb1
: to walk with difficulty due to physical impairment
2
: to go slowly or with difficulty
limp
2 of 3 noun
: a limping movement or gait
walked with a limp
limp
3 of 3 adjective1
: not firm or stiff
limply
adverb
limpness
noun
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