limp

/lɪmp/

//lɪmp// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"limp" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“limp” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,514 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#16,514
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To walk lamely, as if favoring one leg.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

limp vs LP
0% similar
limp vs LM
0% similar
limp vs lit
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for limp
PropertyValue
Headwordlimp
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/lɪmp/
Letters4
Frequency rank#16,514
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “limp” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). limp lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for limp is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /lɪmp/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,514 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for limp, with forms such as "ilmp", "limmp", and "limpp". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "LP", "LM", "lit", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: 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 … The correct English form is limp, spelled L-I-M-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    To walk lamely, as if favoring one leg.
  2. 2
    To travel with a malfunctioning system of propulsion.
  3. 3
    To move or proceed irregularly.
  4. 4
    To call, particularly in an unraised pot pre-flop.

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”).

This word in other languages

cojear(Español)boiter(Français)hinken(Deutsch)mancar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilmp,limmp,limpp,lipm,llimp,lmip

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of limp - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ilmp2limmp1limpp1lipm2llimp1lmip2
Edit distance from "limp"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "limp"?
"limp" is spelled L-I-M-P. The IPA pronunciation is /lɪmp/.
What does "limp" mean?
As a verb, "limp" means: To walk lamely, as if favoring one leg.
What words are commonly confused with "limp"?
"limp" is commonly confused with "LP", "LM", "lit". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "limp"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "limp" is /lɪmp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "limp"?
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 L... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “limp”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-M-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /lɪmp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “LP” - see the side-by-side comparison. limp vs LP
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list