1 B1 neutral
To enter a place walking with a limp due to injury or pain.
"The injured player limped in from the field to get treatment on the sideline."
limp in
B2 neutral intransitive
To enter or arrive walking with a limp, or figuratively to arrive in a damaged, slow, or weakened state.
In plain English
To come inside or arrive somewhere while limping — either really walking with pain, or barely making it.
What does "limp in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To arrive or reach a destination in a damaged, reduced, or barely functional state (used figuratively of vehicles, teams, or organisations).
"The damaged tanker limped in to the harbour with one engine running."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To walk with an uneven gait into a place — largely transparent.
Actually means
To come inside or arrive somewhere while limping — either really walking with pain, or barely making it.
Usage tip
Used both literally for a person or animal arriving while limping, and figuratively for vehicles, aircraft, teams, or organisations barely managing to arrive or complete something. The figurative use is common in sports reporting.
Words that pair with "limp in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
airport finish line port game final season home
How to conjugate "limp in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
limp in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
limps in
he/she/it
Past simple
limped in
yesterday
Past participle
limped in
have + pp
-ing form
limping in
continuous
Hear "limp in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "limp in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "limp in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
arrive injured crawl in drag oneself in hobble in stagger in
Keep exploring
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