Word
lumbering
Phoneticslum·ber·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫəmbɝɪŋ/
UK/lˈʌmbəɹɪŋ/
Definition
adj. moving in a slow, heavy, and awkward way. You use this to describe something very large, like an elephant or a big truck, that moves with difficulty.
adj. moving with heavy clumsiness or lack of agility. Often describes the movement of large animals, heavy machinery, or inefficient organizations.
Examples
“A lumbering bear walked slowly through the thick forest.”
“The old, lumbering bus struggled to climb the steep hill while carrying forty passengers.”
“The corporation's lumbering bureaucracy made it nearly impossible for the creative team to implement even the most minor changes to the product design.”
Examples
simple
“A lumbering bear walked slowly through the thick forest.”
contextual
“The old, lumbering bus struggled to climb the steep hill while carrying forty passengers.”
complex
“The corporation's lumbering bureaucracy made it nearly impossible for the creative team to implement even the most minor changes to the product design.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lumbering” in context.
Verb
01. lumbering approach
“The lumbering approach of the elephant caused the smaller animals to scatter.”
adj + verb (gerund/noun)
02. watch lumbering
“We stood on the pier and watched the lumbering cargo ship pull into the harbor.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. slow lumbering
“The slow lumbering beast emerged from the thicket, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground.”
adj + adj
Noun
04. lumbering beast
“The bus was a lumbering beast that struggled to navigate the narrow city streets.”
adj + noun
05. lumbering gait
“He had a heavy, lumbering gait that made him easy to identify from a distance.”
adj + noun
06. lumbering giant
“The old steam engine was a lumbering giant of a machine, noisy and inefficient.”
adj + noun
07. a slow lumbering pace
“The project moved at a slow lumbering pace due to the excessive bureaucracy.”
08. lumbering through the forest
“We could hear a large bear lumbering through the forest toward our campsite.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; often carries a negative connotation of inefficiency or lack of grace.
Real-World Examples
“A British design called the Mark I, the giant, lumbering vehicles couldn’t move much faster than a walking man – but they were practically impervious to machine gun fire.” “But it is only now, four or six months later, that the great machine of the so-called "international community", the United Nations, is lumbering into action.” “A mammoth audit of every vote cast is lumbering on at a glacial pace.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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