strum

noun

\ˈstrəm

Definition of strum

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an act, instance, or sound of strumming

strum

verb

strummed; strumming

Definition of strum (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing strum a guitar also : thrum entry 1 sense 1

b : to play (music) on a stringed instrument strum a tune

2 : to cause to sound vibrantly winds strummed the rigging— H. A. Chippendale

intransitive verb

1 : to strum a stringed instrument

2 : to sound vibrantly

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Examples of strum in a Sentence

Verb

He strummed a tune on the guitar.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The horizontal video uses the same footage as the vertical, in which Mendes strums and sings away as a pair of anonymous female hands get touchy-feely. — Abby Jones, Billboard, "Shawn Mendes Drops Gorgeous 'Full Color' 'Nervous' Video: Watch," 11 June 2018 For a little bit of folk salvation, turn to Bon Iver, whose evocative strums and lilting voice speak straight to the soul. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "These Are the Best Songs to Help You Get Over a Breakup," 30 May 2018 Six-string strums, including from a Kurt Cobain sample, figure in other songs, too. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "What Lives in Kanye West’s ‘Ghost Town’," 14 June 2018 All that's missing here is a quick strum of his air guitar. — Dakota Crawford, Indianapolis Star, "Of course Lance Stephenson pulled off a hidden ball trick in a celebrity softball game," 7 June 2018 Musicians can jam and learn from one another during strum-alongs, classes, and open mike opportunities during this festival hosted by the Ukulele Union of Boston and the town’s Cutler Elementary School. — Kathy Shiels Tully, BostonGlobe.com, "Spinning a classic tale at Reading High," 20 Apr. 2018 Or maybe a guitar strum or even the fluid sound of a clarinet. — Nick Hoppe, San Francisco Chronicle, "Lovely sounds in the middle of the night," 6 Apr. 2018 The new track about flying sparks between lovers is as fiery as expected, combining lead singer Cristal Ramirez's soulful vocals with clashing percussion and glimmering guitar strums. — Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, "The Aces Heat Up With Fiery New Single 'Volcanic Love'," 9 Feb. 2018 The second, a serene strum-fest accompanied by Meloy's sing-song musings. — Eder Campuzano, OregonLive.com, "With 'I'll Be Your Girl,' The Decemberists take a new path to the same destination (review)," 16 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Any guitar player who strums this incredible custom axe is going to be shredding paper. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "A Fender Stratocaster Made of Corrugated Cardboard Actually Sounds Awesome," 4 Dec. 2015 Eddy’s aggressive approach to the material is understood, and echoed, by a frantic chorus of singing, dancing, uke-strumming denizens of the show’s central location, the Kit Kat Club. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "A Coarse, Cacophonous, Compelling 'Cabaret' In New Haven," 26 June 2018 The family’s music career had its roots with Pops Staples, a manual laborer who strummed a $10 guitar while teaching his children gospel songs to keep them entertained in the evenings. — Caryn Rousseau, Washington Post, "Yvonne Staples, part of family’s hit-making gospel group, dies at 80," 11 Apr. 2018 Each morning before first period a group of students would pray together, sometimes singing while someone strummed an acoustic guitar. — Cincinnati.com, "Aftermath of gun violence: 'It stays with you'," 3 July 2018 At the beginning of May, Chrissy Teigen posted two photos of her 2-year-old daughter Luna, sitting on a small pink stool and strumming a matching pink harp. — Olivia Harrison, refinery29.com, "Every Celeb Kid Is Strumming On This Quaint Fairytale Instrument, But Why?," 12 July 2018 Anderson will return to the City of Brotherly Love on Friday, June 29, in a quest to take his strumming to the stage at the U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championships at Johnny Brenda’s. — Grace Dickinson, Philly.com, "How to slay at the U.S. Air Guitar Regional Championships in Philadelphia," 27 June 2018 Ryan taught himself chords, wrote lyrics, and figured out strumming patterns. — Jeremy Hallock, star-telegram, "Local rising star Mike Ryan brings his eclectic country sound to Billy Bob's," 20 June 2018 In an exclusive preview clip, the artists can be seen strumming and harmonizing joyously to the tune, which was originally released on Yoakam’s 1993 album This Time. — Shanté Honeycutt, Billboard, "Watch Post Malone Perform a Duet With Dwight Yoakam on SiriusXM," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.