limp

1 of 3

verb

ˈlimp 

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

Synonyms of limp

Verb

• shuffle
• hobble
• halt
• stumble

Adjective

• floppy

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

Verb

Wyatt Langford gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a home run to left field one pitch after fouling a ball off his left foot and limping out of the batter’s box. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

The perfect quarterback does not limp to the huddle or chug beers during the bye week. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Noun

Hull noted Robinson was wearing different clothes and walking with a limp not seen in the earlier footage. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Another video apparently captured Robinson walking with a limp up a staircase leading to the roof of the Losee Center. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Adjective

According to courtroom accounts, Maduro appeared in better physical condition than during previous appearances, walking without the limp observers had noted earlier this year. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Until, that is, the play’s rather retrograde climax, when the playwright’s provocateur wildness goes limp. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

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

Rhymes for limp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• pimp
• shrimp
• skimp
• wimp

Kids Definition

limp

1 of 3 verb

ˈlimp 

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

: weary entry 1 sense 1, exhausted

limply adverb

limpness noun

Medical Definition

limp

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈlimp 

1

: to walk lamely

especially : to walk favoring one leg

2

: to go unsteadily

limp

2 of 2 noun

: a limping movement or gait