cumber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicLiterary, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “cumber” mean?
to obstruct or hinder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to obstruct or hinder; to weigh down or burden.
To fill or block with something cumbersome or superfluous; to be a source of difficulty or unwanted responsibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference; the word is equally archaic and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Literary, biblical, old-fashioned.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, with slightly higher recognition in British English due to its presence in the King James Bible and older literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “cumber” in a Sentence
[S] cumber [O] (with [X])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cumber” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Do not cumber the hall with unnecessary furniture.
- She felt cumbered by the heavy responsibilities of the estate.
American English
- He did not want to cumber his schedule with more meetings.
- The old machinery cumbered the factory floor.
adjective
British English
- The cumbered path was difficult to navigate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely used, except in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cumber”
- *'cumber' used as a modern synonym for 'bother' or 'annoy'.
- *Confusing 'cumber' (verb) with 'cucumber' (noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or literary. Its more common derivatives are 'cumbersome' (awkwardly heavy) and 'encumber' (to burden).
They are synonyms. 'Encumber' is the more standard, modern, and frequently used form. 'Cumber' is the older, simpler root word.
Historically, yes (meaning 'hindrance'), but this usage is now obsolete. The modern word is almost exclusively a verb.
Primarily in the King James Bible (Luke 13:7), the works of 19th-century authors like Dickens or Eliot, and in historical texts.
to obstruct or hinder.
Cumber is usually literary, archaic in register.
Cumber: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌmbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌmbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cumber the ground (Biblical/Literary: to be useless or take up space unproductively)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CUCUMBER so large and heavy it BLOCKS a path, BURDENING anyone who tries to move it: CUMBER.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPEDIMENT IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN / DIFFICULTY IS WEIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts would 'cumber' be most appropriately used?