Illustration of tom-tom
- tom-tom 1
1
: a usually long and narrow small-headed drum commonly beaten with the hands
2
old-fashioned
: tam-tam sense 2
3
a
: something used to make a noise suggestive of the tom-tom's beating
b
: a monotonous beating, rhythm, or rhythmical sound
4
or less commonly tom
: a cylindrical two-headed drum of varying size often used in pairs in drum sets
Examples of tom-tom in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There was also a wastebasket, tom-tom, and the seats of four chairs all made out of human skin.
—
Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Peart quickly became known as one of the fastest and most technically proficient drummers in rock, commanding a huge battery of cymbals and tom-toms and injecting Rush’s music with complex polyrhythms and tempo changes.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The performers manipulate five batteries of drums, including timpani, snares, congas, bongos, tom-toms, and bass drums.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
Even then, the casual denigration of Native American characters who were depicted in the script as playing tom-toms, holding powwows and speaking in pidgin English raised eyebrows.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2024
Fertile fields that once knew the beat of tom-toms still hold beneath a carpet of blue grass, the bones of an ancient and extinct race.
—Bill Frist, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
In full concentration mode, Agustín handled the bass pedal and toms with aplomb, crossed his hands for some flair, and added some razzle dazzle with the cymbals, without missing a beat.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 18 June 2023
The 85% adult tom proportion of the harvest was up two points over 2022 and in line with the average over the last decade, according to the DNR.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 10 June 2023
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Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Peart quickly became known as one of the fastest and most technically proficient drummers in rock, commanding a huge battery of cymbals and tom-toms and injecting Rush’s music with complex polyrhythms and tempo changes.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The performers manipulate five batteries of drums, including timpani, snares, congas, bongos, tom-toms, and bass drums.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
Even then, the casual denigration of Native American characters who were depicted in the script as playing tom-toms, holding powwows and speaking in pidgin English raised eyebrows.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2024
Fertile fields that once knew the beat of tom-toms still hold beneath a carpet of blue grass, the bones of an ancient and extinct race.
—Bill Frist, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
In full concentration mode, Agustín handled the bass pedal and toms with aplomb, crossed his hands for some flair, and added some razzle dazzle with the cymbals, without missing a beat.
—Leila Cobo, Billboard, 18 June 2023
The 85% adult tom proportion of the harvest was up two points over 2022 and in line with the average over the last decade, according to the DNR.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 10 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Tom-tom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tom-tom. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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