Limber describes a body that bends and stretches easily without stiffness or pain. A limber gymnast can touch her toes, do splits, and twist into positions that would make most people wince. Dancers, martial artists, and athletes work to stay limber because flexible muscles and joints help them move gracefully and avoid injuries.

You become more limber through regular stretching and practice. Someone who sits at a desk all day might feel stiff and inflexible, but after weeks of gentle yoga or stretching exercises, their body gradually becomes more limber. Think of the difference between a fresh rubber band that stretches smoothly and an old, stiff one that might snap: that's the difference between a limber body and a tight one.

As a verb, limber means to make your body more flexible and ready to move. The phrase limbering up means preparing your body for activity through stretching and light movement. Before a soccer game, players limber up by jogging slowly and stretching their legs. Without limbering up first, those same movements might feel awkward or even cause muscle pulls. While natural flexibility varies from person to person, almost everyone can become more limber with consistent, patient practice.