limp

¹ American  

[limp] / lɪmp /

verb (used without object)

1. to walk with a labored, jerky movement, as when lame.

2. to proceed in a lame, faltering, or labored manner.

   His writing limps from one cliché to another. The old car limped along.

3. to progress slowly and with great difficulty; make little or no advance.

   an economy that limps along at a level just above total bankruptcy.

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noun

1. a lame movement or gait.

   The accident left him with a slight limp.

limp ² American  

[limp] / lɪmp /

adjective

limper, limpest

1. lacking stiffness or firmness, as of substance, fiber, structure, or bodily frame.

   a limp body.

   Synonyms:

   soft, flaccid, flabby

2. lacking vitality; weary; tired; fatigued.

   Limp with exhaustion, she dropped into the nearest chair.

   Synonyms:

   weak, feeble

3. without firmness, force, energy, etc., as of character.

   limp, spiritless prose.

   Synonyms:

   weak, feeble

4. flexible; not stiff or rigid.

   a Bible in a limp leather binding.

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limp ¹ British  

/ lɪmp /

verb

1. to walk with an uneven step, esp with a weak or injured leg

2. to advance in a labouring or faltering manner

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noun

1. an uneven walk or progress

limp ² British  

/ lɪmp /

adjective

1. not firm or stiff

2. not energetic or vital

3. (of the binding of a book) not stiffened with boards

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Other Word Forms

• limper noun
• limping adjective
• limpingly adverb
• limply adverb
• limpness noun

Etymology

Origin of limp¹

1560–70; back formation from obsolete limphault lame; Old English lemphealt limping ( halt ² ); akin to Middle High German limpfen to limp

Origin of limp²

1700–10; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Icelandic limpa slackness, limpilegur soft, flabby

Example Sentences

That is especially true in China, due to limp demand and weak sales amid a frosty economic landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal

He tried running the 200 meters at the Olympic trials in Oregon before the Paris Games and did so in 33 seconds, but he limped away with an injury.

From Los Angeles Times

Martin's other daughter, Kelly Fretwell, said her mother had "waddled" when she walked, had a limp, arthritis and had undergone two hip replacements.

From BBC

Martin, from Woodford Green, east London, was described in court as a "doting and loving grandmother" who had mobility issues that left her with a limp.

From BBC

Now the industry limps along by focusing on artificial intelligence; private equity also has experienced setbacks and looks even wobblier to me.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• falter
• hobble
• hop
• shuffle
• stagger
• stumble
• waddle