limp

verb \ ˈlimp \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of limp

intransitive verb

1 a : to walk lamely; especially : to walk favoring one leg

The injured player limped off the field.

b : to go unsteadily : falter

the conversation limped for some time
—Henry Green

2 : to proceed slowly or with difficulty

the ship limped back to port

—

limper

noun

See limp defined for English-language learners

See limp defined for kids

Examples of limp in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of limp from the Web

The best bad movies are also deeply personal passion projects—not the kind of routine, movie-by-committee garbage that limps out of Hollywood a few dozen times per year.

— scott meslow, GQ, "Can a Video Game Be So Bad It’s Actually Good?," 11 May 2018
Horse racing’s routinely hard-to-figure corner of the Internet nearly short-circuited Sunday when a video showed Justify appearing to limp on some gravel as trainer Bob Baffert walked him outside his Churchill Downs barn.

— bryce miller, baltimoresun.com, "Column: With Mick Ruis and Bolt d’Oro, another Triple Crown chess match might be on," 9 May 2018
Horse racing’s routinely hard-to-figure corner of the Internet nearly short-circuited Sunday when a video showed Justify appearing to limp on some gravel as trainer Bob Baffert walked him outside his Churchill Downs barn.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Next move? Preakness status of Bolt d'Oro suddenly, surprisingly up in air," 9 May 2018
But in Indiana, the Senate primary has been so nasty that any of the three main Republican candidates could come limping out of Tuesday night, particularly if the contest is very closely divided.

— chuck todd, NBC News, "Seven things to watch in today's primary elections," 8 May 2018
Pompeo limped out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday after Democrats on the committee all lined up against him.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "Senate confirms Pompeo as Trump's second secretary of State, and he quickly gets to work," 26 Apr. 2018
Until that happens, Lebanon will continue to limp along.

— The Economist, "Lebanon’s political system leads to paralysis and corruption," 19 Apr. 2018
The Warriors picked a bad year to limp into the playoffs.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "For Warriors, playoffs could be bumpy ride," 25 Mar. 2018
Still, Illinois’ job gains continue to limp far behind the nation’s.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Illinois payrolls set record in February, as unemployment dipped to 4.7 percent," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'limp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of limp

probably from Middle English lympen to fall short; akin to Old English limpan to happen, lemphealt lame

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

limp Synonyms

limp

noun

Definition of limp

: a limping movement or gait

See limp defined for English-language learners

Examples of limp in a Sentence

We noticed that the dog was walking with a slight limp.

Recent Examples of limp from the Web

Amanda is obsessed with finding a husband for the very shy Laura, who walks with a limp as a result of polio and spends much of her time with her collection of glass animals.

— kathy cichon, Elgin Courier-News, "Independent Players stage original version of 'Glass Menagerie'," 2 May 2018
Mattek-Sands is ahead of her husband’s recovery, although Sands can now walk without a limp.

— david waldstein, New York Times, "Bethanie Mattek-Sands’s Husband Follows Her Everywhere. Even the Operating Table.," 8 Apr. 2018
The rambunctious, energetic little boy fell limp in his arms and whispered into Duncan’s ear, asking him for the umpteenth time this year if Duncan had brought his fire truck.

— silvia foster-frau, San Antonio Express-News, "Sutherland Springs survivor cheers on the man who saved his life," 5 Apr. 2018
Playing in his 40th Masters and with a noticeable limp, Nicklaus was 12 years removed from winning his record sixth green jacket with a Sunday 65 that clipped Greg Norman and Tom Kite by one shot in 1986, a day as famous as any in golf’s archives.

— steve dimeglio, USA TODAY, "Jack Nicklaus made an amazing Sunday charge at age 58 in 1998 Masters," 4 Apr. 2018
Forty-five years ago, gaunt and walking with a limp, Navy Lt.

— dan nowicki, azcentral, "How John McCain's POW release 45 years ago started his path to politics," 2 Apr. 2018
Dunn, who has turf toe, is out of his walking boot but walking with a limp.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls sign Sean Kilpatrick as Denzel Valentine joins mounting injury list," 26 Mar. 2018
When Dan Alexopoulos scored to put Whitnall ahead, 59-58, with 35 seconds to go, Basile landed awkwardly and stayed down for a few moments before getting up with a limp.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Late basket by Pewaukee's Grant Basile lifts Pirates to thrilling win over Whitnall," 8 Mar. 2018
With a smile on his face, Robinson made cuts, planted on his left leg and shifted around on defense, all without a limp or wince.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Glenn Robinson III returns from ankle injury with Pacers' G-League affiliate," 1 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of limp

see ¹limp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1818

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

limp

adjective

Definition of limp

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

See limp defined for English-language learners

Examples of limp in a Sentence

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 of limp from the Web

More galling still, reports continue to come in of overheating problems that leave Prius owners in limp-home mode or stranded in traffic unable to move.

— The Economist, "Do electric cars dream of software fixes?," 22 Apr. 2018
Then there was the awkwardness of Nixon, who stood on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, contending with a limp yo-yo.

— elizabeth drew, The New Republic, "Follies," 27 Apr. 2018
That limp surrender had gifted the Premier League title to Manchester City, prompting Mourinho to accuse his players of complacency.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Smalling, Lukaku score as Man United upend Bournmeouth," 18 Apr. 2018
Bendy carrots will straighten right up, lettuce will crisp, and limp broccoli will find its strength again.

— special to the plain dealer, cleveland.com, "Don't waste it: How to revive food that is stale, burned, over-salted," 18 Apr. 2018
Additionally, it is widely rumoured that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is set to leave the club come the end of the season, after a limp defence of their Premier League crown this campaign and Champions League football looking increasingly unlikely.

— SI.com, "West Ham Keeping Tabs on Chelsea Star After Reports of Stamford Bridge Unhappiness Emerge," 15 Apr. 2018
Director Richard Loncraine wisely gets out of the way for the most part, letting his cast breathe life into the script’s limp cliches.

— jane horwitz, kansascity, "‘Finding Your Feet’ follows a familiar path | The Kansas City Star," 12 Apr. 2018
Knebel was walking with a limp Friday, a day after he was injured while pitching against St. Louis in the ninth inning with the Brewers trailing by six runs.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Browns trade away another QB," 7 Apr. 2018
Fish throwing As this list will show, there are few things hockey fans love more than throwing a limp, cold-blooded vertebrae over the boards.

— chris chase, For The Win, "The 9 weirdest fan traditions in sports, from fish throwing to celery," 16 Apr. 2018