1 B1 informal
To carry something heavy or awkward out of a room, building, or enclosed space with effort.
"It took three of us to lug out the old sofa from the living room."
separable
lug out
B1 informal separable transitive
To carry something heavy or bulky out of a place with considerable physical effort.
In plain English
To carry something very heavy outside or out of a room, struggling because it's so big or heavy.
What does "lug out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To remove something tedious or burdensome from a place or situation.
"He had to lug out all the outdated files from the archive before the audit."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Lug' means to carry with effort; 'out' indicates movement away from or outside an enclosed space. Transparent.
Actually means
To carry something very heavy outside or out of a room, struggling because it's so big or heavy.
Usage tip
The counterpart of 'lug in.' Both forms are informal and emphasize the physical strain of carrying heavy loads. Commonly heard when moving house, doing deliveries, or clearing out spaces. The object is usually large, heavy, or awkward.
Words that pair with "lug out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
furniture boxes rubbish equipment bags old stuff
How to conjugate "lug out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lug out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lugs out
he/she/it
Past simple
luged out
yesterday
Past participle
luged out
have + pp
-ing form
luging out
continuous
Hear "lug out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "lug out"
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