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
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
The balance with Jonas Brodin Given the way Jonas Brodin limped in the dressing room before talking with the media Saturday afternoon, one wondered whether the Wild defenseman made it through his return OK?
—Joe Smith, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Brunson eventually got up but had a significant limp.
—James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Destined to be reduced to mincemeat one way or another, the neo-Mickey's limp, naked body slowly slides out from the machine.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Verb
The Magic have been limping towards the postseason ever since their two best players, forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, went down with torn right obliques early into the 2024-25 season.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
The balance with Jonas Brodin Given the way Jonas Brodin limped in the dressing room before talking with the media Saturday afternoon, one wondered whether the Wild defenseman made it through his return OK?
—Joe Smith, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
Adebayo was wearing a sleeve on his left leg and walking with a limp at the team’s annual Family Festival on Saturday.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
Brunson eventually got up but had a significant limp.
—James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Having only been in the job a week, Tudor altered the formation slightly, shifting from Motta’s limp 4-2-3-1 system to a more dynamic 3-4-2-1.
Yildiz was paired with Teun Koopmeiners to function behind Dusan Vlahovic, another who had fallen foul of Motta but was restored under Tudor.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Destined to be reduced to mincemeat one way or another, the neo-Mickey's limp, naked body slowly slides out from the machine.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 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 11 Apr. 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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