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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Trump's existing tariffs on imports of Canadian steel, aluminum and lumber are a central concern, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the talks. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 Residents built them with bricks made on-site and lumber from local trees. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
Next door, the slab and lumber for a second house to be completed in the fall was already on site. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026 Imax cameras are lumbering tools that weigh 300 pounds each and roar like Cuisinart blenders. — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 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
  • But 100 yards from his truck, Delzer saw the tracks abruptly turn into the woods at a location where both Wolff’s truck and the squad truck were visible.
    — David Zeug, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The 101 rooms and 57 suites feel contemporary and quietly luxurious with high ceilings, plush carpeting, and white wood paneling—not to mention Marshall Bluetooth speakers and Dyson hairdryers.
    — Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of wood
Verb
  • For nearly a year and a half, he was shuffled around detention centers in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and Florida, until arriving in the Alexandria International Airport in mid-August.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Yankees continued to shuffle their bullpen on Monday, claiming John Schreiber.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • Most critics of judicial supremacy stumble over the fact that a strong Court sometimes benefits their side.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Analysis from Zeki Data shows that where OpenAI and Anthropic are making gains in the AI talent market, Google DeepMind (and to some extent Meta) are stumbling.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • As the rocket rumbled along the Space Coast, nerves turned into catharsis for JPL scientists and engineers looking on.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But Gareth Fry’s thundering, rumbling sound design too often oversells the suspense.
    — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rumble
Verb
  • Better hygiene isn’t the only reason Bogoyavlenskiy and his team load silverware this way.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • After perfecting the design on their computer, Tiu loaded a drum of yellow ink into the printer.
    — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • For The Times) California lawmakers have voted to shift a state forest system away from commercial logging and pave the way for tribal co-management, delivering a win to a movement rooted in the historic timber wars.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This innovation provides a sustainable, recyclable alternative to fiberglass while directly strengthening Maine’s economy by utilizing its local timber industry.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of timber
Verb
  • Joined by his crew, Shakur stomps him out before the stunned gamblers and boxing fans.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The need for data Inside the headquarters of UBTech Robotics, one of China’s biggest humanoid robot firms, a silver-and-black mannequin picks up a box, stomps across the floor, and mechanically places the box on a shelf.
    — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • Three days later, the team brought in Moody, the former Michigan standout who has also struggled at times in his young career.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Restaurants and private grocery stores are struggling to stay open because of higher supply costs and lower consumption.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle

Browse Nearby Words

lulus
lumber
lumbered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumber. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lumber

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lumber

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All