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

Verb

• halt
• hobble

Adjective

• droopy
• flaccid
• floppy
• lank
• yielding

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

First, Alaska’s overloaded court system has limped along for years by allowing extensive trial delays, defying a state requirement for speedy trials. —Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2024

Chargers Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat the Chiefs but limped at the finish line Sept. 29, 2024 OK, video clip, whatever. —Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024

Noun

Despite his noticeable limp, Herbert still walked to midfield to greet Fields after the game. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2024

Long dismissed as a lackey or a laughingstock (thanks to his looks and his limp), the former driver turned factory manager spots an opportunity where others only see catastrophe. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Amika Big Hit Volumizing Shampoo energizes limp strands, boosts volume to over twice their usual thickness, and eliminates excess sebum that could drag your hair down. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024

Penny pinned Neely to the ground with the help of two other passengers, and placed him in a chokehold for more than three minutes until Neely’s body went limp. —Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing limp

• limp-wristed

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