Word
limp
US/ˈɫɪmp/
UK/lˈɪmp/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
limp
Past
lamp
Past participle
lump
Definition
v. to walk with difficulty because one of your legs or feet is hurt. You might do this if you have a sore ankle or a broken toe.
v. to walk with an uneven or labored gait, typically as a result of injury or physical impairment. Often used to describe the movement of damaged vehicles or struggling organizations.
Examples
“He had to limp back to the car after twisting his ankle.”
“The injured player began to limp toward the sidelines, signaling to the coach that he needed a substitution.”
“Even after the surgery, the dog continued to limp slightly on its hind leg, though the vet assured the owners that it was no longer in any pain.”
Examples
simple
“He had to limp back to the car after twisting his ankle.”
contextual
“The injured player began to limp toward the sidelines, signaling to the coach that he needed a substitution.”
complex
“Even after the surgery, the dog continued to limp slightly on its hind leg, though the vet assured the owners that it was no longer in any pain.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“In his first days, Coleman, the American, watched a blood-drenched, bullet-riddled French limousine limp into Dammartin.” “MacIntyre, who had limped to a 12-over 82 during the first round on Thursday, currently sits at 31st on the FedEx Cup points list.” Etymology
From Middle English limpen (“to fall short”), from Old English limpan, from Proto-West Germanic limpan, from Proto-Germanic limpaną (“to hang down”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb-, (s)lembʰ- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”). Cognate with Low German lumpen (“to limp”), Middle High German limpfen (“to hobble, limp”), dialectal German lampen (“to hang down loosely”), Icelandic limpa (“limpness, weakness”).
From Middle English limp, lemp, from Old English lemp (recorded only in compound lemphealt (“limping”), from Proto-West Germanic limpan, from Proto-Germanic limpaną (“to hang down”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb-, *(s)lembʰ- (“to hang loosely, hang limply”). Cognate with German lampecht (“flaccid, limp”), Icelandic lempinn, lempiligur (“pliable, gentle”). See above.
From Middle English limpen, from Old English limpan (“to happen, occur, exist, belong to, suit, befit, concern”). Cognate with Scots limp (“to chance to be, come”), Middle Dutch limpen (“to happen”), Middle Low German gelimpen (“to moderate, treat mildly”), Middle High German limfen (“to suit, become”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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