drill 1 of 3

1
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill

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2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

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drill

2 of 3

verb (1)

drill

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drill
Noun
Mays and Moton were both missing from individual drills during the media portion of practice. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025 The man is a yeoman on the diamond, having spent the past couple of seasons showing up early and sweating out infield drills to refine his skills at shortstop. Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
On Thursday, the Senate voted 52-45 to overturn the decision, which limits the amount of land in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska available for drilling to 52%. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025 The prototype drilled through ice samples about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long under vacuum and cryogenic conditions during laboratory experiments, and at greater depths in field tests in the Alps and Arctic, reaching depths of more than a meter in snow. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
Noun
  • But, no matter how good your intentions are, life always manages to throw a wrench into your cleaning routine.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Each was judged on softness, absorbency, size, and dry time—and yes, every single one has elevated our bath time routines for the better.
    Jasmine Desiree, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Kremlin said the exercise evaluated the readiness of its military commands.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • These elements may help support consistency and improve the overall exercise experience over time.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Myers, who wrote the film with Geoff Bakken, has delivered a uniquely modern take on corporate grind that does not shy away from body horror.
    William Earl, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
  • For me, the feeling of nailing a big, screen-clearing combo while the music swells to a crescendo is well worth the grind.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But the nation's approximately 232 million people are split near evenly between Muslims and Christians, with smaller percentages following other practices, including indigenous beliefs.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This practice had its own history, another tributary to the overshoot conjuncture that weighed heavily on its future course.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • National Guard troops have been staging at Portland training bases for weeks while the legal case plays out, having been activated to protect federal officials and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has been the focal point of daily protests since June.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • LaRoche is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Coach of Integrity Hoops, which is a basketball training and consulting company.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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