limp

verb \ ˈlimp \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Examples: limp in a Sentence

Definition of limp

limped; limping; limps

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

James limped off after just 30 minutes at the Samara Arena, where a goal from Barcelona defender Yerry Mina booked their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup along with Japan.

— SI.com, "Colombia Talisman Tells Club Teammate That World Cup Injury Is 'Mild' Ahead of England Clash," 2 July 2018
The left back player limped off the field in the 10th minute of Wednesday’s game against Serbia and was replaced by Filipe Luis.

— alexandria hein, Fox News, "Doc blames hotel mattress after Brazil's Marcelo exits World Cup game with back issue," 28 June 2018
Following in the footsteps of France, Italy and Spain, the Germans limped out of this competition with VAR playing a huge role - yet again - as an offside call was correctly overturned in the dying embers of the game.

— nathan hilditch, Pro Soccer USA, "South Korea 2-0 Germany: Champions curse strikes again as Germany exits World Cup," 27 June 2018
Chatham police helped rescue a limping baby deer Tuesday afternoon that was believed to have lost its mother, police said.

— laney ruckstuhl, BostonGlobe.com, "Chatham police rescue injured fawn," 26 June 2018
One Deer Park player limped off the field after getting hit with a pitch on the ankle.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Scrimmage helps Deer Park 9s prepare for busy June," 1 June 2018
Ohtani limped off the field and was replaced in the seventh inning.

— mike digiovanna, latimes.com, "Ankle sprain might keep Shohei Ohtani from making next start," 29 Apr. 2018
The freshman limped to the bench after making two free throws with 44 seconds left after a flagrant foul by Malachi Flynn.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Washington State, minus leading scorer Robert Franks, loses at Oregon," 11 Feb. 2018
Kings: Rookie De'Aaron Fox limped off the court after scoring as part of Sacramento's 19-6 run in the third. ...

— USA TODAY, "Kings score 9 in 1st, rally to beat Bulls 104-98," 6 Feb. 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

Unlike Neuville, Shaw walks with a significant limp.

— jeff potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Two Badgers football players have a way to go in their recovery from ACL tears," 17 Apr. 2018
The toddler had begun to cry whenever Chambers was around him, Ashendorf said, and two days before his death Drakeford was seen walking with a limp.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "The mom's boyfriend said her son might grow up to be gay. Now he's accused of his murder.," 19 June 2018
The latter left in a snit and with a limp, due to a knee that needed surgery and has sidelined him during Boston's playoff run Now the problem is the lack of cuts to the basket from the weakside (the side away from the ball) by the thumb-twiddlers.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers 2018 - An ugly win beats a well-played loss anytime: Bill Livingston (photos, video)," 2 May 2018
When a weary-looking Weinstein arrived in court, shuffling up the aisle with a slight limp, more than 50 members of the press had packed into the at-capacity courtroom.

— maureen o'connor, The Cut, "The Courthouse Scene at Harvey Weinstein’s Arraignment," 5 June 2018
Photos from the scene immediately after Najjar was shot show a group of men carrying the volunteer in her white uniform, her head tilted back and her gloved hand limp around their shoulders.

— siobhán o'grady, Washington Post, "A Palestinian medic was shot dead in Gaza. Now Israel says it will investigate.," 2 June 2018
Belinda walks with a limp and wears giant flowered shirts and sighs a lot.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award finalist: "The Sweeper of Hair" by Karin Lin-Greenberg," 2 June 2018
Mentor, freshly discharged from a local hospital, walked into his arraignment at West Roxbury Municipal Court Friday afternoon with a noticeable limp.

— emily sweeney and danny mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "Hyde Park man shot by police was convicted of shooting at officers in a 2009 confrontation," 1 June 2018
Her layer-less cut detracted from her natural, curly texture and left her strands looking limp and flat.

— heather finn, Good Housekeeping, "This Mom Cut Her Super Long Hair, and Now She Looks 20 Years Younger," 11 May 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

Two men lifted his limp body, supporting him under his arms.

— The Courier-Journal, "Danger in the cage: Lax regulation in amateur MMA puts lives at risk," 21 June 2018
Fries on the side, however, were dark golden but limp.

— kate washington, sacbee, "It's not flashy or splashy, but Roseville's Ciao excels at cooking classic Italian," 8 June 2018
Later in the morning, when the baby was still limp and not eating, the parents decided to take the infant to the hospital.

— david owens, courant.com, "Hartford Parents Charged With Manslaughter In Infant Daughter's Death," 8 June 2018
Dry shampoo Kevin Murphy dry shampoo spray $24, Amazon Buy Now Guys with medium or long hair: Dry shampoo absorbs excess oils that make the hair turn greasy and limp.

— adam hurly, GQ, "7 Beauty Products You Should Definitely Steal from Your Lady Friend's Cabinet," 31 May 2018
Bradley brought Glenara's cold and limp body to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "Mother charged with murder of 2-year-old daughter pleads no contest," 3 Jan. 2018
Then Ah Yang became limp and shrivelled, as though sleeping.

— lu yang, The New Yorker, "Silver Tiger," 4 June 2017
The chicken was tender and flavorful, the broccoli cooked past the crisp stage but not limp.

— kim walker, Woman's Day, "One-Pot Orzo with Chicken and Broccoli," 7 Feb. 2012
Where the former was strong, united and balanced, the latter looked limp, disjointed, and largely disinterested.

— SI.com, "Why Everton Must Learn From Their History in Next Managerial Appointment or Be Doomed to Repeat it," 18 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of limp

akin to ¹limp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1706

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

limp Synonyms

Synonyms

all in, beat, beaten, bleary, burned-out (or burnt-out), bushed, dead, done, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, logy (also loggy), played out, pooped [slang], prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, weary, wiped out, worn, worn-out;

Antonyms

unwearied;

Near Antonyms

fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized;

active, energetic, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, strong, tireless, vitalized, weariless;

Related Words

overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked;

broken-down, run-down;

debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, sapped, weakened;

drowsy, heavy, sleepy;

lethargic, sluggish;

Phrases

worn to a frazzle;

LIMP Defined for English Language Learners

limp

verb

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

: 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

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

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

limp

adjective

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

: having an unpleasantly soft or weak quality : not firm or stiff
: feeling very tired

LIMP Defined for Kids

limp

verb \ ˈlimp \

Definition of limp for Students

limped; limping

: 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

Definition of limp for Students

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

limp

adjective

Definition of limp for Students

: not firm or stiff The limp plants needed water.

—

limply

adverb

Medical Dictionary

limp

intransitive verb \ ˈlimp \

medical Definition of limp

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

2 : to go unsteadily

limp

noun

medical Definition of limp

: a limping movement or gait

Learn More about limp

See words that rhyme with limp Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for limp Spanish Central: Translation of limp Nglish: Translation of limp for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of limp for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up limp? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

limp

Definition of limp

limper

Examples of limp in a Sentence

Recent Examples of limp from the Web

Origin and Etymology of limp

limp Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

limp

Definition of limp

Examples of limp in a Sentence

Recent Examples of limp from the Web

Origin and Etymology of limp

limp

Definition of limp

limply

limpness

Examples of limp in a Sentence

Recent Examples of limp from the Web

Origin and Etymology of limp

limp Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

LIMP Defined for English Language Learners

limp

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

limp

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

limp

Definition of limp for English Language Learners

LIMP Defined for Kids

limp

Definition of limp for Students

limp

Definition of limp for Students

limp

Definition of limp for Students

limply

Medical Dictionary

limp

medical Definition of limp

limp

medical Definition of limp

Learn More about limp

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 7/20

Trending: Giuliani: Secret Recordings 'Powerful Exculpatory Evidence'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word