strum

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrəm 

: 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

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

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

Noun

Karla Brustad has put on sing-alongs, strum alongs, hootenannies and all sorts of free community jams, getting folks singing and playing the ukulele. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

As the Argentinian-Swedish artist sings about philosophy, nature, and human nature, his pastoral guitar strums will relieve as much stress as an afternoon of forest-bathing. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026

Verb

With a bobbing of trochanter and femur, with a shake of tibia and tarsal, her claws strum the tiny drops of cloud beginning to settle on the mountain. —María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

Miles Caton’s character, Sammie, sings and strums the guitar as the spirits of Black musicians and performers — past, present and future — weave through the juke joint. —Arushi Jacob, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for strum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

strum

verb

ˈstrəm

strummed; strumming

: to play a stringed instrument by brushing the strings with the fingers

strummer noun