strummed; strumming
1
a
: to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing
strum a guitar
also
: thrum entry 1 sense 1
b
: to play (music) on a stringed instrument
strum a tune
2
: to cause to sound vibrantly
… winds strummed the rigging …—
H. A. Chippendale
H. A. Chippendale
strummer
noun
Examples of strum in a Sentence
Verb
He strummed a tune on the guitar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Marcus Mumford channeled Gracie Abrams‘ guitar strums and vocals while visiting the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Guitar in hand, Sheeran traded dulcet lines with Smith while strumming along on his acoustic guitar and shuffling around the stage.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strum
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
The song may be six minutes long, but the circuitous lope of his acoustic-guitar strum and low throb of his warbling feel eternal, like the type of tune Sisyphus might have hummed to keep himself company.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Marcus Mumford channeled Gracie Abrams‘ guitar strums and vocals while visiting the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
The two rehearse backstage, trading verses and strumming their guitars.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
Guitar in hand, Sheeran traded dulcet lines with Smith while strumming along on his acoustic guitar and shuffling around the stage.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strum
Cite this Entry
“Strum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strum. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share