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to limp

to limp

73 2.6
To walk with difficulty because one leg or foot is hurt
  • verb
  • /lɪmp/
translation icon : cojear
  • After the accident, she could only walk by limping on her left leg.
  • limp back
  • a limping man
  • a limping child

Your dad limps because he was hurt in the war.

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Examples

  • Biting back tears, she got up and limped over to a window seat.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The man took it and limped towards the door, followed by the Headmaster and Kadi.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Your dad limps because he was hurt in the war.

  • I saw you limping after the first quarter.

  • But then I was like walking back to the car, almost limping, like I was like bent over a little bit.

  • Then he looks back at Larry and limps to the other side of the cable car.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You weren't limping today when you arrived, were you?

  • I notice you're limping there.

  • Bill throws Oliver over his shoulder and limps away down a dark alley.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Skeet arrived just after noon, limping and dragging both their packs, looking completely done in.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to hobble
vsto limp
22 5.6

To walk with difficulty because of pain or injury

is about difficulty from injury or weakness rather than emphasising pain intensity
to hitch
vsto limp
11 5.6

To walk with a limp because of an injury

is the more general word for moving with difficulty from weakness or injury
6 3.7

Move with short uneven steps because one leg or foot hurts

is the broader verb covering any difficult movement not only uneven stepping
to gimp
vsto limp
  • Informal
1 9.8

To walk with difficulty because of a leg or foot injury

is the neutral verb for moving with difficulty from injury or weakness
to gimp along
vsto limp
  • Informal
8.7

To walk slowly and with a limp because of a hurt leg

is the general action of moving with difficulty due to injury or weakness

Antonyms

1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

16 2.7

To walk with long confident steps toward a place

Phrasal Verbs

Move with short uneven steps because one leg or foot hurts

Compounds

limp-wrist
  • Slur
1 9.9

Showing weak, feminine movements often used as an offensive way to mock gay men

A loose wrist movement used to show sarcasm or mock someone

How Impaired

crawl
23 1.2
to hobble
22 5.6
to limp
73 2.6
to drag
179 2.8
to walk
1.0

Surface Forms

limp infinitive
limped past
limped past participle
limping present participle
limps third person singular

Etymology

Limp probably comes from old Germanic words meaning 'hang loose' or 'move slowly'. So to limp is to walk with difficulty, as if one leg is weak or dragging behind you.