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

Though the announcement drummed up more attention and some tips, no evidence has emerged supporting the theory. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

The creative voices behind HBO shows A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Euphoria have been drumming up anticipation for their upcoming season launches. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025

Here’s the writer Nick Paumgarten trying to drum up a Talk of the Town piece by wandering through the East Village and questioning random New Yorkers about what’s on their minds, a catch-as-catch-can method that, in its way, reflects the magazine’s democratic openness. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025

Trump administration officials have been working to drum up troop commitments. —Arkansas Online, 30 Nov. 2025

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