# lumber

/ˈɫəmbɝ/ (US) · /lˈʌmbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lumber
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to move heavily

verb · CEFR B2

to move in a slow, heavy, and awkward way.

For teachers: to move with a heavy, clumsy, or noisy gait. Intransitive — often used with a prepositional phrase of direction.

- The huge bear started to lumber toward the river to catch some fish.
- The old freighter began to lumber out of the harbour, its engines groaning under the weight of the heavy cargo.

### 2. to burden someone

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to give someone a job or a responsibility they do not want.

For teachers: to burden or encumber someone with an unwanted task or responsibility. Transitive — frequently used in the passive voice with 'with'.

- I got lumbered with all the cleaning after the party finished.
- The junior consultant was lumbered with the tedious task of cross-referencing three years of financial spreadsheets over the weekend.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'with'.

### 3. wood for building

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

wood that has been cut into boards or planks for building things.

For teachers: timber sawed or split into planks, boards, or other structural forms. Uncountable in this sense.

- We bought some lumber from the local store to build a new fence.
- The construction crew stacked the lumber neatly on the site, ensuring the cedar planks were protected from the rising damp.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'timber' is the standard term for this material; 'lumber' is specifically North American.

### 4. old junk

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

old furniture or things that are stored away and take up too much space.

For teachers: disused or cumbersome articles, such as old furniture, that occupy space without being useful.

- The attic was filled with the lumber of several generations.
- He spent the afternoon clearing the dusty lumber from the basement, unearthing broken chairs and rusted tools from the previous century.

## Examples

- We bought some lumber to build a new deck.
- The construction crew arrived early in the morning to unload a massive shipment of lumber for the house frame.
- Due to recent supply chain disruptions, the price of premium lumber has fluctuated wildly, impacting the profitability of small-scale furniture manufacturers across the region.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.