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
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025
The next game, Westbrook limped off the court in Philadelphia with his untimely injury.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2025
Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Rust appeared to be walking with a slight limp outside of the locker room while Sullivan was speaking with reporters.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
At 61, Moyes is the oldest manager in the division by some distance, and after a limp 0-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in his first game, the Scotsman appeared to have a slightly more sober take on the task at hand.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
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Verb
Towns landed awkwardly after Porzingis’ rejection and limped to the locker room.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2025
The next game, Westbrook limped off the court in Philadelphia with his untimely injury.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
One walked with a fake limp, and others wore fake hands—anything to avoid detection from the police.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025
Rust appeared to be walking with a slight limp outside of the locker room while Sullivan was speaking with reporters.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The dissuading a witness charge against the father stems from what the prosecution said allegedly happened after the boy stopped breathing and his mother carried his limp body upstairs.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
At 61, Moyes is the oldest manager in the division by some distance, and after a limp 0-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in his first game, the Scotsman appeared to have a slightly more sober take on the task at hand.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 27 Feb. 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 13 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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