strum

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrəm 

: an act, instance, or sound of strumming

strum

2 of 2

verb

strummed; strumming

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

strummer noun

Examples of strum in a Sentence

Verb

He strummed a tune on the guitar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lighthearted and bouncy guitar strums of the track are later embellished with UMI’s fluid Japanese rap interlude. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 22 Aug. 2025

Some of the guitarists strum it backstage or outside of a performance area, but others have actually incorporated into live shows. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2025

Verb

Randy Boone, who played the guitar-strumming singing ranch hand Randy Benton on the classic NBC western The Virginian, died Thursday, August 28. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025

Liam is a tornado of affable douchbaggery, rolling from insult to confrontation to huge chorus, while Noel strums a few paces off-center, a wily smirk the only flicker of emotion on his face. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1764, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for strum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum

Kids Definition

strum

verb

ˈstrəm

strummed; strumming

: to play a stringed instrument by brushing the strings with the fingers

strummer noun