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Lumbering
To move slowly and heavily in a clumsy, awkward, and often noisy manner.
verbđź’ˇ
Imagine This
Imagine a bulky bear squeezing through a dense forest, each step crushing twigs and leaves with a loud, heavy thud as it lumbers forward.
🔊
Sounds Like
LUM-ber-ing
đź‘€
Looks Like
lumber (timber)
đź“ť
Remember This
Lumber describes timber; to lumber is to move as if made of heavy timber—slow, heavy, and awkward.
đź“š
Other Forms
lumberverb
lumberedverb
lumberingadjective
đź”—
Connect With
plod, trudge, ponderous, ungainly
đź“Ś
Note
Usually used intransitively (lumber along, lumber through). It should describe movement rather than a direct action on an object (you don’t typically lumber a thing). Distinguish from the noun lumber (the timber).
đź§
Study Deeper
Examples
- The lumbering bear moved slowly through the forest, snapping branches as it went.
- A lumbering truck blocked the road, its engine groaning under the load.
Synonyms
clumsyawkwardponderousheavy-footedungainly
Antonyms
gracefulnimbleagile
Etymology
From the noun lumber (timber) with the sense of heaviness; the verb to lumber originally described moving as if one were made of heavy timber, and the -ing form marks the present participle.
Mnemonic
LUMBERING = LUMBER + ING. Picture carrying heavy timber and taking slow, noisy strides; the word literally echoes the weight it describes.
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