strum

noun \ ˈstrəm \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Definition of strum

: an act, instance, or sound of strumming

Recent Examples of strum from the Web

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
The first of the album's two instrumentals is the latter, and shudders with beauty -- with a guitar strum that drifts in search of a home, before the song expands into a swirl of piano and finger-snaps.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "The 50 Greatest Interludes of All Time: Staff Picks," 9 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of strum

imitative

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1764

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

strum

verb

Definition of strum

strummed; strumming

transitive verb

1 a : to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing

strum a guitar

; also : ¹thrum 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

—

strummer

noun

See strum defined for English-language learners

See strum defined for kids

Examples of strum in a Sentence

He strummed a tune on the guitar.

Recent Examples of strum from the Web

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
There have also been a few things that have taken almost next to no adjustment at all, such as her ability to strum a guitar.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Woman Who Gouged Out Her Eyes Reveals Why She Did It, Says 'Life Is More Beautiful Now'," 10 Mar. 2018
As key phrases arise, Ms. Magic will begin strumming and humming, weaving those lines of dialogue into a lilting melody.

— alex williams, New York Times, "Tech Elites Recreate Burning Man Inside Their Living Rooms," 29 June 2018
Along the crowded avenue, the sound systems boomed, floats of musicians strummed the small 10-string guitar called the cuatro, a marcher in a giant frog costume embodying the coqui, Puerto Rico’s unofficial mascot, drew cheers.

— andy newman, New York Times, "Hurricane Maria Casts Shadow Over Puerto Rican Parade," 10 June 2018

First Known Use of strum

1777

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

STRUM Defined for English Language Learners

strum

verb

Definition of strum for English Language Learners

: to play (a guitar or similar instrument) by moving your fingers across the strings
: to play (music) on a guitar, banjo, etc., by moving your fingers over the strings