wooden

American  

[wood-n] / ˈwʊd n /

adjective

1. consisting or made of wood.

   a wooden ship.

2. stiff, ungainly, or awkward.

   a wooden gait.

3. without spirit, animation, or awareness.

   Synonyms:

   impassive, lifeless, vacant, expressionless

4. dull or stupid.

5. indicating the fifth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

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wooden British  

/ ˈwʊdən /

adjective

1. made from or consisting of wood

2. awkward or clumsy

3. bereft of spirit or animation

   a wooden expression

4. obstinately unyielding

   a wooden attitude

5. mentally slow or dull

6. not highly resonant

   a wooden thud

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verb

1. slang (tr) to fell or kill (a person or animal)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• woodenness
  noun
• woodenly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of wooden

First recorded in 1530–40; wood ¹ + -en ²

Example Sentences

Ono’s very first “Wish Tree” — a baby grapefruit tree planted in a wooden box — was shown in 1996 at Santa Monica’s Shoshana Wayne Gallery in Bergamot Station.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Using a wooden spoon, stir the lentils often to avoid burning them.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

He has also published a book of his lyrics, reissued his post-Beatles singles in a wooden crate, and pushed for the completion and release of the Beatles’ final single, “Now and Then.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with an expansive living area that features wooden beams on the ceiling, French doors that open up to the balcony, a cozy fireplace, and a sage green bar.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

I leaned my head back against the wooden slats of the seat and shut my eyes, reliving another train trip to Brabant.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom