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

The striker scored and registered an assist against Morocco but limped off the pitch in the 77th minute. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

But Machado did not move well on the bases later in the game and was limping after the game in the clubhouse. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

Noun

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

Despite a limp from childhood, Greene rose the ranks due to his leadership ability and was commissioned as a brigadier general over Rhode Island's three regiments in May of 1775. — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026

Adjective

Rats, cockroaches and weasels run amok, tearing through limp tent sheets and biting children and newborn babies in their sleep. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Of course, London is not short of premium lunch options or businesses built around the idea that office workers will pay for something better than a limp sandwich between meetings. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 29 June 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