limping

limping — verb

1. to walk in an uneven way because one leg or foot is hurt, painful, or injured

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to walk in an uneven way because one leg or foot is hurt, painful, or injured

例句

Karim limped off the football field after twisting his ankle.

limp + adverb of direction (off)

The old dog limped slowly toward its water bowl.

同義詞
  • hobble

    suggests walking awkwardly, often from general pain or being tied, not necessarily a leg injury

  • shuffle

    implies dragging the feet, often from old age or tiredness rather than a specific injury

反義詞
  • stride

    walk with long, confident steps; the opposite of an uneven limp

文法句型

limp + adverb of direction (off, along, toward, into)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person or animal with a leg or foot injury. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes physical walking, not metaphorical progress.

常見錯誤

❌The old man was hobbling because his shoes were too tight.
✅The old man was limping because his shoes were too tight.
💡'hobble' suggests being tied or restrained; 'limp' points to leg or foot pain.
❌She limped into the room in her new high heels.' (when meaning unsteady, not injured)
✅She stumbled into the room in her new high heels.
💡'limp' requires an injury; 'stumble' is for losing balance.

2. to move forward, develop, or continue with difficulty, making slow and uneven pr

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to move forward, develop, or continue with difficulty, making slow and uneven progress

例句

The peace talks limped on through another long and frustrating week.

limp + on (continue with difficulty)

Amara's old laptop limped through the final year of her degree.

limp + through (barely complete a period or task)

同義詞
  • stagger

    suggests lurching from one difficulty to the next, often closer to collapse

  • falter

    implies losing strength or momentum momentarily rather than sustained slow progress

反義詞
  • surge

    move forward suddenly and strongly, the opposite of limping along

文法句型

limp + on

limp + along

limp + through + noun phrase

limp + from X to Y

用法筆記

Subject is usually an abstract process, institution, or project — not a person walking. Often used with particles 'on,' 'along,' or 'through' to describe slow, difficult continuation.

常見錯誤

❌The runner limped slowly toward the finish line.' (when meaning physical limping, not metaphorical)
✅The sentence is correct for sense 1, but if you mean the race progressed slowly, say: 'The race limped toward a slow finish.
💡sense 2 is for processes, not people walking.

limping — noun

limping — adjective