# lumbering

/ˈɫəmbɝɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈʌmbəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lumbering
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun; often carries a negative connotation of inefficiency or lack of grace.

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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.