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

Frank was willing to lose the Wales forward, but he may well have cursed the decision as Kudus limped disconsolately away with what looked like a muscle injury.

From BBC

Pacific Lumber limped along for seven more years before filing for bankruptcy, which was finalized in 2008.

From Los Angeles Times

French star Wembanyama limped off the court in the fourth quarter of San Antonio's dramatic 134-132 victory after falling awkwardly as he attempted to gather a rebound.

From Barron's

U.S. stocks limped to the finish line on Wednesday, with all three major indexes closing lower to cap a third straight blockbuster year for markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Food, beverage, and restaurant stocks limped through much of 2025, weighed down by a stubborn mix of inflation, weakening demand, and policy uncertainty.

From Barron's

Related Words

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