YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

cumbersome

Adjective

IPA /ˈkʌmbəsəm/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Large or heavy in a way that makes something awkward to carry or use.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

cumbersome/ˈkʌmbəsəm/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Compare

A small item is easy to carry
A bulky item is awkward to move

A cumbersome object is difficult to handle because of its size, shape or weight.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

The old suitcase was too cumbersome for the narrow stairs.
The students replaced the cumbersome display stand with a lighter model.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

The old suitcase was too ________ for the narrow stairs.

Show the answer

cumbersome — Large or heavy in a way that makes something awkward to carry or use.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “cumbersome” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Large or heavy in a way that makes something awkward to carry or use.

Compare: The old suitcase was too cumbersome for the narrow stairs.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

Formed from cumber, an older verb meaning to obstruct, and -some.

Did you know?

Cumbersome equipment and cumbersome machinery describe awkward physical objects.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.