strum

1 of 2

noun

: an act, instance, or sound of strumming

strum

2 of 2

verb

strummed; strumming

transitive verb

1
a
: to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing
strum a guitar
b
: to play (music) on a stringed instrument
strum a tune
2
: to cause to sound vibrantly
winds strummed the riggingH. A. Chippendale

intransitive verb

1
: to strum a stringed instrument
2
: to sound vibrantly
strummer noun

Examples of strum in a Sentence

Verb He strummed a tune on the guitar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
His voice and guitar strums spark a hallucinatory sequence in which different times collide. Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Or at least feature the strums of a charcheta somewhere in there? Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Meg Mills, the band’s new guitarist, strums away in a wintry terrain, surrounded by snow. Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 28 May 2025 Young buskers strum ukuleles outside Brad Walker Pottery on this day, harmonizing to a Jason Mraz song that was popular before they were born. John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for strum

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1764, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of strum was in 1764

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strum. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

strum

verb
ˈstrəm
strummed; strumming
: to play a stringed instrument by brushing the strings with the fingers
strummer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on strum

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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