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
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
The cub appears to limp in a video shared in the release.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Olivia Rockeman, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
At a young age, Mitch was crushed by a portable heater, leaving him with a lifelong limp that set him apart from friends and lovers, if only in his own eyes.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
Frank Rizzo, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
As Rick carries her limp body away from the tumult, Sritala orders security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) to kill him.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limp
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Anything is possible as the Panthers enter their final five-game stretch of the regular season almost limping to the finish.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
The cub appears to limp in a video shared in the release.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Advertisement Advertisement In the months leading up to his death, my dad struggled with double vision and a limp that doctors couldn’t get to the bottom of.
—Olivia Rockeman, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
At a young age, Mitch was crushed by a portable heater, leaving him with a lifelong limp that set him apart from friends and lovers, if only in his own eyes.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The alternating worlds are meant to be playful, but Toontown especially gets exhausting quickly, with characters mugging, clowning and amplifying every limp punchline.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
As Rick carries her limp body away from the tumult, Sritala orders security guard Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) to kill him.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share