Limp: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'limp' when someone is walking unevenly, often because of an injury or pain in their leg or foot. It suggests a noticeable difficulty in walking but not necessarily a dramatic or extreme one.

• After twisting his ankle, he had to limp back to his car.
• She walked with a slight limp after the surgery.

Choose 'hobble' to describe someone who is walking very awkwardly and with great difficulty, often due to pain or stiffness. It suggests more severe impairment than 'limp'.

• The old man hobbled down the street with the help of a cane.
• After the marathon, she could only hobble to the car.

'Shuffle' is appropriate when describing someone moving slowly and dragging their feet, usually because of tiredness, age, or lethargy. It often conveys a lack of energy or motivation.

• The tired workers shuffled out of the factory at the end of their shift.
• The elderly woman shuffled across the room to get her medication.

'Stagger' is used when someone is walking unsteadily and almost falling, usually due to dizziness, weakness, or being drunk. It implies a lack of balance and control.

• He staggered to his feet after being hit in the head.
• She was so dizzy that she could only stagger to the nearest bench.

Used when someone or something is not firm or strong. Often describes an object that is floppy or lacks stiffness.

• The flowers had gone limp from the heat.
• His handshake was limp and unimpressive.

Used when someone is walking unsteadily as if they might fall, often due to being drunk, exhausted, or carrying a heavy load. It suggests a more dramatic and shaky movement.

• He managed to stagger home after the party.
• The weight of the boxes made her stagger.

Used when someone trips or loses their balance momentarily, but doesn't necessarily fall. It often implies a sudden, temporary loss of balance.

• She stumbled over a rock in the path.
• He stumbled and nearly fell while running.

Used to describe an unstable or shaky movement, both for objects and people. Often implies a side-to-side motion that isn't steady.

• The table wobbles because one leg is shorter than the others.
• He wobbled slightly as he stood up, feeling dizzy.