lumber 1 of 2

noun

Definition of lumbernext
as in wood
tree logs as prepared for human use a huge amount of lumber will be needed to build the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

lumber

2 of 2

verb

ˈləm-bər How to pronounce lumber (audio)
1
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily the elephant lumbered through the jungle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to rumble
to make a low heavy rolling sound the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to load
to place a weight or burden on preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lumber
Noun
New tariffs on lumber are expected to slow the rate of new home construction and make buying a home more expensive. — Jack Springgate, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 That’s because Maine’s goods — including lumber, blueberries, lobster, and potatoes — are often processed on the other side of the border. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
The big upgrade here is that ER 2 can process live video feeds from the robot’s cameras, allowing the system to track progress as the robot lumbers from one step to the next. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026 Next door, the slab and lumber for a second house to be completed in the fall was already on site. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lumber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumber
  1. wood
  2. shuffle
  3. stumble
  4. rumble
  5. load
  6. timber
  7. stomp
  8. struggle
Noun
  • In Al Mawasi, wood, sheet metal, and solar panels have become six university halls serving hundreds of students each day.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The fallen autumn leaves can be left in the garden to serve as a carbon-rich winter cover that suppresses weeds just as effectively as wood bark mulch.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of wood
Verb
  • The filmmaker has likened his perspective in this project to that of Dorothy’s dog Toto in The Wizard of Oz, alert to the shuffling feet beneath the curtain rather than being bamboozled by the shyster title character’s techno showmanship.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Not much else changed in Class 5A, besides Azle and Arlington Seguin shuffling down two spots with Week 2 losses.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • But since then, Nosková has solidified while Sabalenka has stumbled, and the Czech has also gotten through some tough matches to reach this one.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Byron Nelson stumbles again Normally an area power, Trophy Club Byron Nelson is off to a rocky start.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Jets from nearby LaGuardia Airport roared overhead and trains rumbled alongside the grounds.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Trains rumble behind the main stadiums, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, while planes approaching and departing from La Guardia Airport bring their stomach-churning roars.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of rumble
Verb
  • Once lake levels are no longer safe for the largest ships to pass, the Panama Canal Authority, the agency in charge of the canal, begins to restrict their maximum draft, meaning how deep into the water the ships sink when loaded.
    — Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The company detected the problem when the new hire’s workstation began loading malware.
    — Michael Engle, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • The couple also owns Sonnenhof, a 14th-century timber house now available as an exclusive-use six-bedroom chalet.
    — Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In addition, strategic timber harvesting opens up canopies to support diverse wildlife and plant species.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of timber
Verb
  • Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Even when stomped into the mud by a 17,500-pound apex predator, dinosaur footprints rarely last long enough to fossilize over millions of years.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • Underwood, then a true freshman, struggled in that meeting, and his inconsistent play against Western Michigan (12-of-22 passing) has led to questions about his job status.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, the Dangote Refinery initially struggled to secure enough domestic crude and had to turn to international suppliers at a premium.
    — Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggle

Browse Nearby Words

lulus
lumber
lumbered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumber. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lumber

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lumber

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All