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
Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2024
Chargers Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat the Chiefs but limped at the finish line
Sept. 29, 2024
OK, video clip, whatever.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024
Long dismissed as a lackey or a laughingstock (thanks to his looks and his limp), the former driver turned factory manager spots an opportunity where others only see catastrophe.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024
Penny pinned Neely to the ground with the help of two other passengers, and placed him in a chokehold for more than three minutes until Neely’s body went limp.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for limp 
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Verb
First, Alaska’s overloaded court system has limped along for years by allowing extensive trial delays, defying a state requirement for speedy trials.
—Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2024
Chargers Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat the Chiefs but limped at the finish line
Sept. 29, 2024
OK, video clip, whatever.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
Despite his noticeable limp, Herbert still walked to midfield to greet Fields after the game.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024
Long dismissed as a lackey or a laughingstock (thanks to his looks and his limp), the former driver turned factory manager spots an opportunity where others only see catastrophe.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo energizes limp strands, boosts volume to over twice their usual thickness, and eliminates excess sebum that could drag your hair down.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024
Penny pinned Neely to the ground with the help of two other passengers, and placed him in a chokehold for more than three minutes until Neely’s body went limp.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
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 7 Nov. 2024.
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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