lim·bo
ˈlim-(ˌ)bō 
plural limbos
1
often capitalized
: an abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism
2
a
: a place or state of restraint or confinement
trapping travelers in an airless limbo—
Sam Boal
Sam Boal
b
: a place or state of neglect or oblivion
proposals kept in limbo
c
: an intermediate or transitional place or state
the adolescent occupies a special human limbo—New Republic
New Republic
d
: a state of uncertainty
The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.
plural limbos
: a dance or contest that involves bending over backwards and passing under a horizontal pole lowered slightly for each successive pass
Examples of limbo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Autumn is one of the busiest seasons for sites with epic fall foliage displays, like Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain, and Acadia, but this year, many will be in partial limbo.
—AFAR Media, 1 Oct. 2025
Every year, tens of thousands of people land on England’s shores in small boats and become trapped in administrative limbo – often housed in hotels while their asylum claims are processed.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, who previously teamed up to play two of Hollywood's most beloved time travelers, are now trapped in a spherical, surrealist limbo where nothing happens and everything is considered.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limbo
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Noun
The federal government shut down Wednesday, delaying pay for federal workers (of whom there are 25,000 in Indiana), placing question marks on the financial health of federal aid programs like SNAP and WIC, and causing mass confusion and limbo in immigration court.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Autumn is one of the busiest seasons for sites with epic fall foliage displays, like Shenandoah, Rocky Mountain, and Acadia, but this year, many will be in partial limbo.
—AFAR Media, 1 Oct. 2025
Every year, tens of thousands of people land on England’s shores in small boats and become trapped in administrative limbo – often housed in hotels while their asylum claims are processed.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, who previously teamed up to play two of Hollywood's most beloved time travelers, are now trapped in a spherical, surrealist limbo where nothing happens and everything is considered.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limbo
Cite this Entry
“Limbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limbo. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
limbo
1 of 2 noun
lim·bo
ˈlim-bō
plural limbos
1
often capitalized
: a place for souls (as of unbaptized infants) believed to be barred from heaven through no fault of their own
2
a
: a place or state of being held or forgotten
b
: a middle place or state
limbo
2 of 2 noun
: a dance or contest that involves bending backward and passing under a horizontal pole
Etymology
Noun
Middle English limbo "a place for souls," derived from Latin limbus (same meaning), from earlier limbus "border"
Noun
from the English of Trinidad and Barbados limbo "a dance that involves bending backwards under a pole," related to Jamaican English limba "to bend," from English limber "flexible"
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