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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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
The conversation pauses every few moments to let a J, M, or Z train lumber loudly past us, but also because Green is someone who chooses her words with great care. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026 Duties on wood products including plywood and softwood lumber mean sourcing those products is more expensive and can drive up the cost of new construction. — Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Trash is strewn everywhere; people addicted to the cheap stimulant basuco, derived from cocaine-production residue, lumber around in varying states of distress. — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026 The man in the suit who lumbered around in the background of their lives. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 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
  • Floor-to-ceiling glass walls let a lot of light into the space, which is decorated in tones of gray, with dark wood herring bone floors in the bar.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In 1966, an ambitious young businessman from Finland, Pekka Koskenkylä, decided to build yachts not from wood but out of a pioneering new material called fiberglass.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of wood
Verb
  • The video, made in collaboration with faceless director Lauzza, features buildings shuffling on beat and other excerpts of British culture.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Senate Leadership Fund, the main GOP Senate super PAC, also shuffled some of its reservations, removing $900,000 in broadcast buys in the state while adding $400,000 in digital ads.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • The Broncos stumbled out of the blocks to a 17-3 deficit against Memphis last week, and the same happened on Saturday against South Dakota.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The Bears, however, stumbled out of the gate, losing four straight before winning Friday night.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Derrick Henry rumbled for 144 yards and three scores — passing Marcus Allen for third in NFL history with 125 career rushing touchdowns.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Listen closely to the sound design and hear jets continually rumbling to and from LAX.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rumble
Verb
  • Just before the show began, Williams loaded up her pre-show playlist with six songs that speak to this musical conversation.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Mariners reliever Carlos Vargas (1-0) struck out Josh Lowe and Christian Moore — each on three pitches — with the bases loaded to end the bottom of the fifth, and Seattle pushed the lead to 7-2 on RBI singles by Canzone and Raleigh in the sixth.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • Hopp tells me his version of the story while the three of us walk the timber road of their farm looking for mushrooms.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The project was on the side of a scrubby hill that looked nothing like the steep timber and chaparral where California’s destructive fires burn and the insurance market has fled.
    — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of timber
Verb
  • The Bulldogs visit Arkansas, which just got stomped by Utah, to open SEC play Saturday.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The clip then pans to a warm fire, and someone, presumably Meghan, stomping in rain boots in the mud.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • Last year, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office struggled with contractor Tyler Technologies to get money from county coffers out to districts.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • But the Hurricanes struggled in the second half, and Wake Forest nearly got back into the game.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggle

Browse Nearby Words

lulus
lumber
lumbered
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Cite this Entry

“Lumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumber. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lumber

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lumber

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