drumbeat

noun

drum·​beat ˈdrəm-ˌbēt How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
1
: a stroke on a drum or its sound
also : a series of such strokes
2
: vociferous advocacy of a cause
3
drumbeater noun
drumbeating noun

Examples of drumbeat in a Sentence

I could hear the drumbeat of a parade down the street. a dizzying drumbeat of interviews in the hours following her winning of the Academy Award
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.
After the Chiefs’ 1-2 start — when Mahomes often seemed to be conducting chaos in the pocket rather than marching to coach Andy Reid’s precise drumbeat — Mahomes found a rhythm from a previous time. Jesse Newell, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025 Online speculation and desire regarding Daryl and Carol as a couple has been at a thunderous drumbeat over the years, but the stars have been resistant to engage — no pun intended — on the topic. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025 Martha Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Christina Hendricks watched on as an unexpected guest − a homeless man walking to the show's drumbeat and dangling a cap from his hand − marched down the gravel runway. Anika Reed, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025 But in recent years, acts of brazen violence have been the grim drumbeat of a debased national politics. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drumbeat

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drumbeat was in 1817

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drumbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drumbeat. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

drumbeat

noun
drum·​beat ˈdrəm-ˌbēt How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
: a stroke on a drum or its sound

More from Merriam-Webster on drumbeat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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