Lumber — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈləm-bər/ lum·ber

Meaning & Definition of Lumber

Lumber (verb)

  1. to move ponderously
  2. rumble
  3. to clutter with or as if with lumber, encumber
  4. to heap together in disorder
  5. to log and saw the timber of

Lumber (noun)

  1. surplus or disused articles (such as furniture) that are stored away
  2. timber or logs especially when dressed for use
  3. any of various structural materials prepared in a form similar to lumber

Lumber (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. tree logs as prepared for human use

    "a huge amount of lumber will be needed to build the house"

    similar: timber, wood
    related: beam, brace, pile, post, ridgepole, sill, splint, stake, stave, stick, bar, billet, block, cordwood, firewood

Lumber (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move heavily or clumsily

    "the elephant lumbered through the jungle"

    similar: barge, clump, flog (British), flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge
    related: drag, flop, haul, blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble
    opposite: breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk
    near: drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

  2. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

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

    similar: blunder, bumble, flog (British), flounder, limp, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge
    related: jog, shamble, shuffle, wallow, welter, falter, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, fumble, muddle
    near: coast, fly, glide, kilt, sail, zip, zoom

  3. to make a low heavy rolling sound

    "the horse-drawn wagon lumbered along the trail"

    similar: growl, grumble, roll, rumble
    related: boom, drum, thunder, bellow

  4. to place a weight or burden on

    "preparations that will lumber the expedition with unnecessary equipment and supplies"

    similar: burden, encumber, freight, lade, laden, load, saddle, weight
    related: clog, clutter, fill, pack, heap, mound, pile, stack, press, weigh, strain, tax, overburden, overload, overtax, surcharge, hamper, handicap, afflict, oppress
    opposite: disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload
    near: alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lumber

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lumber:

British: flog
timber, wood, barge, clump, flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge, blunder, bumble, limp, struggle, growl, grumble, roll, rumble, burden, encumber, freight, lade, laden, load, saddle, weight

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lumber

Words with the opposite meaning of Lumber:

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk, disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload

Related Words for Lumber

beam, brace, pile, post, ridgepole, sill, splint, stake, stave, stick, bar, billet, block, cordwood, firewood, drag, flop, haul, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble, jog

Near Antonyms of Lumber

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft, fly, kilt, sail, zip, zoom, alleviate, ease, lighten, relieve

Word Forms of Lumber

Inflections: lumbered, lumbering

Derived words: lumber (adjective), lumberer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Lumber

Middle English lomeren

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Lumber

lumber room, lumber with

Frequently Asked Questions about Lumber

What does "Lumber" mean?

"Lumber" means to move ponderously. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move ponderously. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lumber"?

Other words for "Lumber" include timber, wood, barge, clump, flog, flounder, galumph and lump. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lumber" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lumber"?

There are 97 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lumber". Common alternatives include timber, wood, barge, clump, flog, flounder, galumph, lump, plod and pound.

What is the opposite of "Lumber"?

Antonyms of "Lumber" include breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk, disburden and discharge. Near antonyms include drift, float, hang and hover.

How do you use "Lumber" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lumber" in a sentence: "a huge amount of lumber will be needed to build the house"; "the elephant lumbered through the jungle"; "the novel's plot lumbers to its predictable conclusion after 500 long pages".

Is "Lumber" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lumber" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Lumber"?

"Lumber" is pronounced /ˈləm-bər/ and divided into syllables as lum·ber.

What is the origin of the word "Lumber"?

"Lumber" comes from Middle English lomeren. First known use: 14th century.