lumbered; lumbering
ˈləm-b(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to move ponderously
an elephant lumbering along the road
The economy continues to lumber along.
2
: rumble
lumbering machines
1
: surplus or disused articles (such as furniture) that are stored away
2
a
: timber or logs especially when dressed for use
b
: any of various structural materials prepared in a form similar to lumber
lumber
adjective
lumbered; lumbering
ˈləm-b(ə-)riŋ
1
: to clutter with or as if with lumber : encumber
plan to lumber the tiny town with a giant ski resort—
Marilyn Stasio
Marilyn Stasio2
: to heap together in disorder
3
: to log and saw the timber of
Synonyms
Examples of lumber in a Sentence
Noun
He works for a lumber company.
had a clearout of all his old lumber and finally got rid of it
Recent Examples on the WebTim Lister, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
After one more lingering look our way, the hippo turned and lumbered off, away, and eventually out of sight.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
His door camera captured the moment of theft — when someone covered in a black plastic trash bag lumbered up Munoz’s front walk in Sacramento.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead of lumbering tankers and precarious crane maneuvers, drones can soar in overhead and deliver vital supplies to warships with precision and agility.
—Amir Emadi, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Sporting bony, chainmail-like armor and razor-sharp claws, these impressive beasts could be found lumbering throughout the prehistoric Americas during the last Ice Age — and not just on the surface, either.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
One year later, only some of those rules have been finalized or implemented, a reflection of the typically slow, lumbering nature of the federal rulemaking process and the inability of a divided, hyperpartisan Congress to tackle even the most basic tasks.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
Neither the conductor nor the orchestra of the lumbering performance was credited.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The most efficient and cost effective way to cut CO2 levels is through rainforest preservation — and preventing the loss of trees due to agriculture and lumbering, which lessens the probability of droughts and wildfires.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
First put to work in 1868, the Milwaukee undertook many different jobs over its 18-year life, but its final voyage came in 1886, after dropping off a routine shipment of lumber, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association said in a March 23 statement.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024
The Dodgers and their frightful collection of lumber, for the record, will do that to plenty of arms.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
Amish families in the area run many small businesses including lumber mills, furniture making, greenhouses, and dairy farms.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2024
Hours after a semi-truck hauling lumber was discovered on the hillside by a West Virginia road, the driver has yet to be found, deputies said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
After he was forced to leave a second time, Doles came back with the lumber in hand and struck the security guard before the store owner managed to confiscate the weapon, the release said.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024
Or at least not until Home Depot offers catapults and other siege equipment next to its lumber aisle.
—John Tufts, The Enquirer, 24 Jan. 2024
However, in 1873, after the Wall Street panic, the Milwaukee was one of many Great Lake ships used for cargo, including lumber.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
In an attack that defied logic, a Russian armored column lumbered across open countryside near the village of Tonenke in Donetsk and was picked off by drones and anti-tank weapons.
—Tim Lister, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
After one more lingering look our way, the hippo turned and lumbered off, away, and eventually out of sight.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
His door camera captured the moment of theft — when someone covered in a black plastic trash bag lumbered up Munoz’s front walk in Sacramento.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead of lumbering tankers and precarious crane maneuvers, drones can soar in overhead and deliver vital supplies to warships with precision and agility.
—Amir Emadi, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Sporting bony, chainmail-like armor and razor-sharp claws, these impressive beasts could be found lumbering throughout the prehistoric Americas during the last Ice Age — and not just on the surface, either.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
One year later, only some of those rules have been finalized or implemented, a reflection of the typically slow, lumbering nature of the federal rulemaking process and the inability of a divided, hyperpartisan Congress to tackle even the most basic tasks.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
Neither the conductor nor the orchestra of the lumbering performance was credited.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The most efficient and cost effective way to cut CO2 levels is through rainforest preservation — and preventing the loss of trees due to agriculture and lumbering, which lessens the probability of droughts and wildfires.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
On the day of the crash, the ship was traveling from Chicago to Muskegon, Michigan, to pick up a load of lumber.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
First put to work in 1868, the Milwaukee undertook many different jobs over its 18-year life, but its final voyage came in 1886, after dropping off a routine shipment of lumber, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association said in a March 23 statement.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024
The Dodgers and their frightful collection of lumber, for the record, will do that to plenty of arms.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
Amish families in the area run many small businesses including lumber mills, furniture making, greenhouses, and dairy farms.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2024
Hours after a semi-truck hauling lumber was discovered on the hillside by a West Virginia road, the driver has yet to be found, deputies said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
After he was forced to leave a second time, Doles came back with the lumber in hand and struck the security guard before the store owner managed to confiscate the weapon, the release said.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024
Or at least not until Home Depot offers catapults and other siege equipment next to its lumber aisle.
—John Tufts, The Enquirer, 24 Jan. 2024
However, in 1873, after the Wall Street panic, the Milwaukee was one of many Great Lake ships used for cargo, including lumber.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lumber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lumber
Cite this Entry
“Lumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lumber. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lumber
1 of 3 verb
lum·ber
ˈləm-bər
lumbered; lumbering
-b(ə-)riŋ
: to move heavily or clumsily
also
: rumble entry 1
lumberingly
adverb
lumber
2 of 3 noun1
: extra or unused household articles (as furniture) that are stored away
2
: timber or logs especially when sawed and trimmed for use
lumber
3 of 3 verb
lumbered; lumbering
-b(ə-)riŋ
1
2
a
: to cut logs
b
: to saw logs into lumber
Etymology
Verb
Middle English lomeren "to move heavily or clumsily"
Noun
perhaps derived from the name Lombard, originally associated with bankers and pawnbrokers, and so called from the use of pawnshops for storing unwanted or excess property
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