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
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Its fate fell into limbo until Simran Singh, a music business attorney, assembled a series of individual deals with theater distributors to show it.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Studio Deliberations Studios are split, caught in a limbo state between the promise of efficiency and innovation and the risk.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Even Jason Voorhees, long stuck in legal limbo, was dragged out for a hard-cider ad (yes, really) with an A24 prequel series on the way.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for limbo
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Noun
Suddenly, Larrea’s wedding plans were thrown into limbo amid uncertainty over whether the National Park would keep the cottage open.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Its fate fell into limbo until Simran Singh, a music business attorney, assembled a series of individual deals with theater distributors to show it.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2025
Studio Deliberations Studios are split, caught in a limbo state between the promise of efficiency and innovation and the risk.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Even Jason Voorhees, long stuck in legal limbo, was dragged out for a hard-cider ad (yes, really) with an A24 prequel series on the way.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 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 Oct. 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"
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