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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
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
  • The name of the magazine was the brainchild of Eunice, who was inspired by the strong, solid, African wood that evoked the heritage of the magazine’s audience.
    — Aaron Wright, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Select stores also feature higher grade wood fixtures to spotlight changes.
    — David Moin, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of wood
Verb
  • It’s been more than a year since Ozzy Osbourne shuffled off this mortal coil.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Current traded away some assets while shuffling stars like Michelle Cooper, Temwa Chawinga and Lorena in and out of the lineup.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • There was upset after upset, and a few teams were on the verge of stumbling as well.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Next week will bring major risks for a stock market that's trying to find its footing as the AI trade continues to stumble, with several megacap earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting and a key inflation report in store.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Now rumours are rumbling that Activision’s reboot might focus on Chief’s origins; that's the last thing Halo needs.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes completed a short pass to the Chiefs tight end, who rumbled down the field, rolling down at the Chargers’ 20-yard line for a 24-yard gain.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rumble
Verb
  • The fuel was first loaded commercially in an American reactor in 2025, and this new factory is designed to transition the technology from single-plant deployment into wide commercial use.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In Peabody, officials are expanding a program that uses cameras mounted on school buses to identify drivers who fail to stop when buses are loading or unloading students.
    — Logan Hall, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • Inside, furnishings are minimal, with timber and cool-toned stone alongside floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the landscaped gardens.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Today with the formal repeal of the Roadless Rule rule expected early next year, the picture on the ground in timber country looks messier.
    — Kirk Siegler, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of timber
Verb
  • 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
  • But wrap a play in too much homespun folksiness and the thing starts to feel both suffocating and, despite all the driving tunes and stomping choreography in the world, suffocated.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 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 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lumber

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lumber

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