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
Nemacolin is privately owned and operated by the Hardy family, Pennsylvania natives who made their name and fortunes in the lumber industry. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 At the age of nine, he was shipped on a lumber freighter from Russia to England; a year later, he was sent to the United States. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
The zombie – slow moving, with sallow complexion, hollow eyes, rotting teeth and a hunger for human flesh – has been lumbering through Hollywood movies for decades now. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026 Travis Bazzana lumbered through August, seemingly striking the proverbial rookie wall. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 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
  • Options include traditional frames (with over 50 styles to choose from), canvas prints, wood mounts, and framed canvases.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Manual Holstein, a manager working in Mercedes research for future displays, indicated that the projector could be small enough to be hidden behind wood or metal trim pieces.
    — James Riswick, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of wood
Verb
  • Findings of no effect tend to either be shuffled off to low-profile journals or left behind as unpublished lab lore.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
  • For the most part, this was a second consecutive solid performance by a group that will likely undergo major personnel shuffling all season.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • Johnson had nothing but space, and stumbled to make one move before reaching the end zone for his first career touchdown.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • After stumbling into an intro to acting class, the 28-year-old quickly caught the professor’s attention.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Then the shuttle appears on screen, the music swells and the room shakes with the tearing, rumbling force of a launch.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Strange sounds emanating from the water heater, like rumbling or popping, often indicate that there is sediment inside the tank.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rumble
Verb
  • An error from the Brewers gave the Rays enough momentum to load the bases.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Within two days, Flowers recalled, Jain and Ketkar had loaded the reminder bot with her scripts.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • The lodge itself leans classic Alaskan design, with vaulted ceilings, heavy timber beams, river-rock fireplaces, and plenty of big windows.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
  • There is also evidence that the body was originally housed in a timber coffin that decayed over the ensuing seven centuries.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of timber
Verb
  • Kylie Minogue had a massive moment in custom metallic Bared boots onstage for the AFL Grand Final, while Alix Earle opted for the brand’s Hillstar boots in black leather to stomp around the Coachella fairgrounds back in April.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • His creator, an unnamed basket-weaver (Peter Dinklage), braided him as a mate for a lonely virgin, a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who stomps around her rustic village smelling like sushi and tossing her head back in an Eliza Doolittle guffaw.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • But even when Antetokounmpo was on the court in the second half, the Heat struggled.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The high prices are adding to pain for cattle ranchers in western states, who were already struggling with persistent drought.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lumber

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lumber

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