limped; limping; limps
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
Henry Green2
: to proceed slowly or with difficulty
The ship limped back to port.
limper
noun
plural limpers
: an uneven movement or gait : a favoring of one leg while walking
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
b
: lacking in strength, vigor, or firmness : spiritless
limply
adverb
limpness
noun
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
Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
The costume department hustles to reattach a limping sole as the star breathes through the heat.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Earlier, Pearsall came through with four catches to spur along that 11-play, 63-yard drive, which Jones walked away from with a limp.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
While its focus is on anti-inflammatory philosophy, dining here is surprisingly the opposite of the usual detox clinic fare, without a limp salad leaf in sight.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The leopard, which was seen limping, is believed to have been injured, possibly by a poaching trap or landmine.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
The costume department hustles to reattach a limping sole as the star breathes through the heat.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
The senior played a few snaps on the second series and just one snap on TCU’s third series before running off the field with a slight limp and signaling for freshman Dozie Ezukanma to come into the game.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Earlier, Pearsall came through with four catches to spur along that 11-play, 63-yard drive, which Jones walked away from with a limp.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The charred, partially burned church was still visible, and the pickup truck that crashed through the door just a day ago was outside, with two American flags hanging limp in the truck bed.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 29 Sep. 2025
While its focus is on anti-inflammatory philosophy, dining here is surprisingly the opposite of the usual detox clinic fare, without a limp salad leaf in sight.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Cite this Entry
“Limp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limp. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
limp
1 of 3 verb1
: 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 adjective1
: not firm or stiff
limply
adverb
limpness
noun
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