lumber

1 of 3

verb (1)

lum·​ber ˈləm-bər 

lumbered; lumbering ˈləm-b(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to move ponderously

an elephant lumbering along the road

The economy continues to lumber along.

2

: rumble

lumbering machines

lumber

2 of 3

noun

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

lumber

3 of 3

verb (2)

lumbered; lumbering ˈləm-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to clutter with or as if with lumber : encumber

… plan to lumber the tiny town with a giant ski resort …

—Marilyn Stasio

2

: to heap together in disorder

3

: to log and saw the timber of

intransitive verb

1

: to cut logs for lumber

2

: to saw logs into lumber for the market

lumberer

ˈləm-bər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of lumber

Verb (1)

• shuffle
• stomp
• stumble
• barge
• haul
• slough
• lump

Noun

• wood
• timber

Examples of lumber in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the elephant lumbered through the jungle

the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages

the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail

preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies

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 Web

Verb

Mando uses a bomb to trip one of the lumbering mechs, sending it crashing down the mountain, then jetpacks up to the hatch of another. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

Eureka has a long history of boom-and-bust cycles — ranging from gold to lumber to marijuana — and some communities are still reeling from the fallout from those industries. —Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Noun

The site also features three miles of nature trails and a Treetop Discovery Tower with views of Lake Huron, the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Island, along with interpretive programming that explains how sawn lumber was rafted across behind sailing ships. —Andy Morrison, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

The 4-by-8-foot panels, which cover 32 square feet, are easy to install and are sold at home centers and lumber yards. —Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English lomeren

Noun

perhaps from Lombard; from the use of pawnshops as storehouses of disused property

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1642, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing lumber

• lumber room
• lumber with

Rhymes for lumber

• cumber
• number
• slumber
• umber
• encumber
• outnumber
• renumber

Kids 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 noun

1

: 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

: clutter entry 1, encumber

2

a

: to cut logs

b

: to saw logs into lumber

lumberer

-bər-ər 

noun

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