drum machine

noun

: an electronic device that simulates the sound of drums

Examples of drum machine in a Sentence

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.
The sound originally came from the Roland TR-808 drum machine, and became associated with thick, thudding kicks used in a slew of genres. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 4 June 2025 Just like the drum machine is a tool for musicians to enhance the backbeat of a song, Provenonce enhances, not replaces, the job of an individual or corporate marketing team. Larry Dvoskin, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025 Göransson did some of this by turning to original instruments, from an original 1932 Dobro Cyclops slide guitar to the original drum machine beat that became the beginning of hip-hop. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025 Just as synthesizers, drum machines, and digital audio workstations redefined music production, AI is simply the next step in this evolution. Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drum machine

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drum machine was in 1976

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drum machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drum%20machine. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!