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

This seems like something drummed up by producers. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025

Perhaps the only thing capable of drumming up a Bardian level of attention would be for a famous person—probably Julia Fox—walking the red carpet in nothing but a pair of Pleasers. —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2025

The goal is drumming up awareness and building excitement before a film expands its theatrical footprint. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 21 Dec. 2025

After years of strategic planning, the NBA developed an in-season tournament to drum up excitement among fans ahead of the marquee Christmas fixtures and make the entirety of the marathon 82-game season more relevant to viewers. —Aditi Sangal, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 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