as in to tap
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drum
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The effort of arrival brings a sense of achievement and the accompanying drum roll imagined when reaching a special place.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
La Familia kept drumming and chanting through the entire game, determined to help lift Messi and his teammates to victory.
—Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drum
Noun
His many credits include performances with the New York Philharmonic, pioneering minimalist composer Philip Glass, genre-blurring singer Cecile McLorin Salvant, drum dynamo Tyshawn Sorey and such past and present jazz sax powerhouses as Benny Golson, Jimmy Heath and Branford Marsalis.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
The effort of arrival brings a sense of achievement and the accompanying drum roll imagined when reaching a special place.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
The ceremony includes chanting, drumming, dancing, and prayers intended to honor the deceased and guide their spirit to the afterlife.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
La Familia kept drumming and chanting through the entire game, determined to help lift Messi and his teammates to victory.
—Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drum
Noun
-
Clothes were washed outdoors in a heavy barrel called a zhlukto, or carried to a nearby stream.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The price of crude oil rose to more than $105 a barrel in early trading today as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues to cloud the market's long- and medium-term outlook.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On the 265th pitch of their April 17 game, when the Baltimore Orioles needed some late-inning fortune, Leody Taveras tapped his helmet.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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These days, some innovative school districts and nonprofit groups are trying to help students labeled EBD by tapping Medicaid money for therapy and family support, providing what are called wraparound services to get students with EBD back into mainstream classes.—
Laurie Stern,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Line a 22 cm (8½ inch) round cake tin with non-stick baking paper.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
For metal containers, like those above, drill drainage holes in the bottoms and three holes in the front of each container, and then use tin snips to cut out triangular openings that are large enough to fit one plant.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the loudness and frequency of cacerolazos—protests where people bang pots—across the island attest to the rage.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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Jurors then heard sounds of banging and choking and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are buckets of disabled mobile phones.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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Engineers will equip it with specialized tools, including grapples, cutters, and buckets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drum. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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