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
When Ampadu and Ilia Gruev limped off within three days of each other, he was left staring down the engine-room barrel. Beren Cross, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 Again, he was shown limping off to the sideline but appeared to be able to continue. James Brizuela, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
Flowers exited with a pronounced limp, had a brief stay in the blue medical tent and then retreated to the locker room with team doctors. Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025 Once a sprightly young feline, this lion’s gait now tells a story of survival etched in every limp. Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Instead of going limp, Chandler stands up, taking Oliveira with him like a 155-pound backpack, and waddles to the center of the ring. Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025 At the liquidator’s shop, Jagriti had watched her mother’s hands go limp in her lap. Kanak Kapur, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near limp

Cite this Entry

“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 28 Jan. 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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