limp

1 of 3

verb

limped; limping; limps

intransitive verb

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
2
: to proceed slowly or with difficulty
The ship limped back to port.
limper noun
plural limpers

limp

2 of 3

noun

: an uneven movement or gait : a favoring of one leg while walking

limp

3 of 3

adjective

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
a
: weary, exhausted
limp with fatigue
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

probably from Middle English lympen to fall short; akin to Old English limpan to happen, lemphealt lame

Adjective

akin to limp entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1818, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of limp was circa 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

limp

1 of 3 verb
1
: 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 adjective
1
: not firm or stiff
2
limply adverb
limpness noun

Medical Definition

limp

1 of 2 intransitive verb
1
: to walk lamely
especially : to walk favoring one leg
2
: to go unsteadily

limp

2 of 2 noun
: a limping movement or gait

More from Merriam-Webster on limp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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