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

Anunoby limped off the Madison Square Garden floors with a few minutes left in the Knicks’ 108-102 Game 2 victory over the Sixers on Wednesday. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026

Anunoby, however, limped off the court in the fourth after appearing to hurt his leg, leaving his status for Game 3 in question. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 May 2026

Noun

Rough waters Butler said in the Friday statement that Brian Hooker had fallen overboard the night he was arrested amid rough waters, causing an injury to his knee that has caused a limp and an abrasion. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026

By January, Jack developed a limp. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

Adjective

While fading blooms typically wilt or go limp, wilting of foliage or plant stems is a sign the plant is water stressed. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026

Blimps derive their name either by onomatopoeia from the sound of the inflated balloon being struck or from their classification in World War I as British Class B airship combined with the word limp, referring to their nonrigid construction. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 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