drum up

verb

drummed up; drumming up; drums up

transitive verb

1

: to bring about by persistent effort

drum up some business

2

: invent, originate

drum up a new method

Synonyms of drum up

• devise
• construct
• concoct
• invent

Examples of drum up in a Sentence

anyone who drums up a better way of doing this tedious task will make a fortune

Recent Examples on the Web

The ultra-hardliners have used nightly rallies and their control of state television, known by the acronym IRIB, to drum up opposition to negotiations. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

Both candidates spent the post-primary period drumming up support ahead of the Democrats’ gathering in San Diego. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2026

But the pardon wouldn’t protect him from a state prosecution or from any perjury charge that could be drummed up from his testimony now. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

Higher-end retailers are trying to drum up business by pouring money into their outlet operations and attracting more lower-end shoppers — a strategy that could drive gains for certain stocks in the space. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drum up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup