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 of limp

Verb

• shuffle
• hobble
• halt
• stumble

Adjective

• floppy

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

Denver limped into the playoffs as a 6 seed and was summarily dispatched by Steph Curry and Golden State, the eventual champs, over five games in the first round. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026

Little was done, for example, to a roster that underperformed in the first half of the season and limped to the finish line after a trade deadline sell-off. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026

Noun

Prosecutors argued the gait of a person who walks with a limp can be seen in one of the people in the surveillance video from the homicide scene and the site where the SUV was dumped. —Emerson Clarridge updated February 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026

The outlet reported that Tatum showed up to the interview with a limp and his double had to take on a lot of his heavier scenes in the film, with him due to undergo intensive physical therapy for the leg injury. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Instead, viewers were faced with one of the more excruciating scenes in recent sports memory as Vonn’s body went limp while rounding one of the course’s first gates. —Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026

If the leaves are limp, dry, wilted, or turning brown, the snake plant isn’t getting enough water. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for limp

• blimp
• chimp
• crimp
• imp
• pimp
• shrimp
• skimp
• wimp

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