limp

verb

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\ ˈlimp

limped; limping; limps

Definition of limp

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : 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

limp

noun

Definition of limp (Entry 2 of 3)

: a limping movement or gait

limp

adjective

Definition of limp (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : 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

2a : weary, exhausted limp with fatigue

b : lacking in strength, vigor, or firmness : spiritless

Other Words from limp Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about limp

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Synonyms & Antonyms for limp

Synonyms: Verb

halt,
hobble

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Verb

stride

Antonyms: Adjective

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 Texas is still trying to limp back to normalcy, but the water supply is still a major concern. — Mallika Kallingal, CNN, "Over 60 million under winter weather alerts as rain and snow impact the East Coast," 19 Feb. 2021 Zombie companies get their nickname because of their tendency to limp along, unable to earn enough to dig out from under their obligations, but still with sufficient access to credit to roll over their debts. — Tom Contiliano, Bloomberg.com, "America’s Zombie Companies Have Racked Up $1.4 Trillion of Debt," 17 Nov. 2020 Mark played Kerri Strug so much that the couch cushion became discolored and limp on one side. — Sofie Birkin, Marie Claire, "Playing Kerri Strug," 9 Feb. 2021 The Cobras finally limp out of the LaRusso home, not entirely defeated but certainly chastened. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, "Cobra Kai Season-Finale Recap: O Holy Fight," 4 Jan. 2021 That was before he was began to limp shortly after Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins came running off the sideline to jump into the crowd of teammates celebrating the touchdown. — Safid Deen, sun-sentinel.com, "Dolphins to place receiver Preston Williams on injured reserve with foot injury," 11 Nov. 2020 Plunkett managed to limp back to Palermo, saw action in Normandy on D-Day and ended her war in the Pacific. — Bartle Bull, WSJ, "‘Unsinkable’ Review: Set Ablaze, Still Fighting," 16 Dec. 2020 With the Ravens nearing a do-or-die fourth-and-5 at the two-minute warning, Jackson had jogged onto the field only after seeing third-string quarterback Trace McSorley limp off with a knee injury. — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Lamar Jackson returns from cramps to throw late TD, Justin Tucker hits 55-yard field goal to lift Ravens over Browns, 47-42," 15 Dec. 2020 Yet any of these pretenders could limp off with the division crown. — Barry Wilner, Star Tribune, "Halfway through NFL season, uncertainty reigns off the field," 11 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun As the Nurse, Foster talks like she’s in an old-time gangster picture and walks with a limp — there’s a lot of acting going on here — but this mediocre action-thriller hardly seems like a good use of her time. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, "Every Jodie Foster Movie Performance, Ranked," 19 Feb. 2021 That’s how my dad explained his limp every night, his feet blistered from speed-running deliveries. — Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, The New Yorker, "Waking Up from the American Dream," 18 Jan. 2021 No, a limp to the sideline to visit the trainer and watch the punter take over on the field. — Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, "This was Detroit Lions' most-2020 game; thank goodness it's over," 26 Dec. 2020 He was also born with a toe missing from his right foot and does walk with a hard-to-perceive limp. — jsonline.com, "11 animal personalities you have to meet at the Milwaukee County Zoo," 23 Dec. 2020 Forget the limp, bristly, oversalted anchovies of bad Caesar salads and worse pizzas. — Benjamin Kemper, WSJ, "Dinner From a Can, No Apologies," 17 Dec. 2020 The robber also walks with a limp in his right leg and speaks with a deep voice. — NBC News, "Masked 'Too Tall Bandit' robs another Southern bank in string of 16 suspected heists," 3 Dec. 2020 But as the years passed, old age came along and replaced Jaspie’s brisk but waddling walk with a limp. — Arkansas Online, "OPINION | DEBRA HALE-SHELTON: The honesty that aging requires," 20 Dec. 2020 At the months-long retrial, Yoon's lawyers argued that their client -- who was a 22-year-old, uneducated repairman with a limp from childhood polio when he was arrested -- was coerced by police into confessing. — Julia Hollingsworth, Yoonjung Seo And Jake Kwon, CNN, "South Korean man cleared of killing teenager after spending 20 years in jail for her murder," 17 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Some, such as petunias and begonias, were left limp and flattened in the dirt. — Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, "The freeze-damaged plants in San Antonio yards have homeowners asking: How do I help my plants recover?," 23 Feb. 2021 Other physical signs include a pale or clammy face, slow or stopped breathing, slow heartbeat or blood pressure, limp body, blue or purple fingernails or lips, vomiting or gurgling noise. — Katy Read, Star Tribune, "Two die in Roseville in sharp spike of apparent drug overdoses," 6 Feb. 2021 An oxygen mask with no tube connecting it to an oxygen tank, no reflections of snow or mountains in a man’s sunglasses and limp flags in a place known for lacerating winds. — New York Times, "Nepal Seeks to Ban 2 Climbers It Says Faked Everest Summit," 1 Feb. 2021 He was left in that position on the ground until his body went limp. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, "Louisiana parents sue first responders in death of 'severely autistic' son," 16 Jan. 2021 Overwatering may make your plant have limp, yellow or brown leaves that aren't crispy. — London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, "Scrub Hub: What should I do to keep my plants alive during the winter?," 12 Jan. 2021 Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are limp and liquid has mostly evaporated, about 12 minutes. — Benjamin Kemper, WSJ, "Dinner From a Can, No Apologies," 17 Dec. 2020 Envision leafy greens that aren’t limp from their journey to your plate. — Los Angeles Times, "No dirt? No farm? No problem. The potential for soil-less agriculture is huge," 21 Jan. 2021 Others lay limp over rocks like sacrificial victims. — Maciek Pożoga, Smithsonian Magazine, "What Japan’s Wild Snow Monkeys Can Teach Us About Animal Culture," 5 Jan. 2021

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.

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Last Updated

2 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for limp

limp

verb

English Language Learners Definition of limp

(Entry 1 of 3)

: to walk in a slow and awkward way because of an injury to a leg or foot

: to go or continue slowly or with difficulty

limp

noun

English Language Learners Definition of limp (Entry 2 of 3)

: a slow and awkward way of walking caused by an injury to a leg or foot

limp

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of limp (Entry 3 of 3)

: having an unpleasantly soft or weak quality : not firm or stiff

: feeling very tired

See the full definition for limp in the English Language Learners Dictionary

limp

verb

\ ˈlimp

limped; limping

Kids Definition of limp

(Entry 1 of 3)

: to walk in a slow or uneven way because of an injury to a foot or leg … Shiloh's up limping around on his bad leg.— Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh

limp

noun

Kids Definition of limp (Entry 2 of 3)

: a slow or uneven way of walking caused by an injury to a leg or foot

limp

adjective

Kids Definition of limp (Entry 3 of 3)

: not firm or stiff The limp plants needed water.

limp

intransitive verb

\ ˈlimp