lim·bo
ˈlim-(ˌ)bō 
plural limbos
1
often capitalized
: an abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism
2
a
: a place or state of restraint or confinement
trapping travelers in an airless limbo—
Sam Boal
Sam Boal
b
: a place or state of neglect or oblivion
proposals kept in limbo
c
: an intermediate or transitional place or state
the adolescent occupies a special human limbo—New Republic
New Republic
d
: a state of uncertainty
The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.
plural limbos
: a dance or contest that involves bending over backwards and passing under a horizontal pole lowered slightly for each successive pass
Examples of limbo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This leaves Samsung in a strange limbo land.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
After two decades spent in legal limbo, Mo once again has to come to terms with his indefinite future as a stateless person.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The fallout from the 22-day strike by state correction officers which ended Monday has put more than 300 people awaiting transfers to state prison into limbo — one of a series of issues that city officials said Tuesday are causing crowding and staffing problems in the city jails.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limbo
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
City mayors, business executives and nonprofit leaders across the country shared examples of projects and jobs put in limbo when EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin ordered a freeze last month on bank accounts holding money Congress had approved for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
This leaves Samsung in a strange limbo land.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
After two decades spent in legal limbo, Mo once again has to come to terms with his indefinite future as a stateless person.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The fallout from the 22-day strike by state correction officers which ended Monday has put more than 300 people awaiting transfers to state prison into limbo — one of a series of issues that city officials said Tuesday are causing crowding and staffing problems in the city jails.
—Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limbo
Cite this Entry
“Limbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limbo. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
limbo
1 of 2 noun
lim·bo
ˈlim-bō
plural limbos
1
often capitalized
: a place for souls (as of unbaptized infants) believed to be barred from heaven through no fault of their own
2
a
: a place or state of being held or forgotten
b
: a middle place or state
limbo
2 of 2 noun
: a dance or contest that involves bending backward and passing under a horizontal pole
Etymology
Noun
Middle English limbo "a place for souls," derived from Latin limbus (same meaning), from earlier limbus "border"
Noun
from the English of Trinidad and Barbados limbo "a dance that involves bending backwards under a pole," related to Jamaican English limba "to bend," from English limber "flexible"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share