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 event brings in people from all over and helps drum up business in the area. — Paul Burton, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

The Chicago school board voted to add two questions to the November ballot gauging whether city voters would support drumming up new revenue for Chicago Public Schools. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Interestingly, Moskowitz learned the scale of the automotive sector all those decades ago by consulting a period survey meant to drum up congressional support for tariffs. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026

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

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