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
Synonyms
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
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
But before there was even a whiff of smoke from the grill, Arsenal’s plans went up in flames as Kai Havertz limped out of Monday’s training session with a season-ending hamstring tear.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Claude would fight through a minor limp all night, tending to his knee at each stoppage, while Agbo and Yates would look a bit sluggish in stretches, still fighting through symptoms.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
There are other reasons people have avoided these ingredients: When used too frequently, silicones can lead to buildup on the scalp resulting in heavy, limp hair.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for limp 
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Verb
While Bailey and Harper continue to fare well against Big Ten defenses, Rutgers has limped to a 12-13 overall record and a 5-9 mark in the conference because of injuries and illness.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
But before there was even a whiff of smoke from the grill, Arsenal’s plans went up in flames as Kai Havertz limped out of Monday’s training session with a season-ending hamstring tear.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Nor is stealth aided by growing evidence of his own neglectful self-care: exhaustion, panic attacks, blackouts, a limp from unattended jogging injuries, eventually audio and visual hallucinations.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Claude would fight through a minor limp all night, tending to his knee at each stoppage, while Agbo and Yates would look a bit sluggish in stretches, still fighting through symptoms.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
When grabbed by a predator, these dice snakes writhe, vomit and poop before finally going limp.
—Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
There are other reasons people have avoided these ingredients: When used too frequently, silicones can lead to buildup on the scalp resulting in heavy, limp hair.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for limp
Dictionary Entries Near limp
Cite this Entry
“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 19 Feb. 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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