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
Sullivan, the drill instructor whose hardened exterior conceals his own private battles. Jp Mangalindan, Time, 9 Oct. 2025 The tool is not drills or dynamite. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Drill and drill adjacent artists like G Herbo and Lil Durk at time reflect the traumatic toll of the streets; artists like Chance and noname provide a sober-eyed view of the external fallout. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2025 Energy Secretary Chris Wright has argued that the administration is making drilling cheaper by cutting red tape. Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
Noun
  • Earlier, during a quiet evening at their home in Dallas, Texas, Muhl and her husband Andrew decided to mix peanut butter with some banana as part of their routine of introducing new foods one by one.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • From smart food choices to better sleep routines, small changes can make a big difference for your digestion.
    Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Each rack features multiple attachments, allowing athletes to perform a wide range of exercises.
    Charles Baggarly October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Compared with many other smartwatches, the battery life is significantly better, lasting nearly six days on a single charge while tracking important health metrics and exercise, such as step count, heart rate, sleep score, and more.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to health disparities, the constant grind within the industry of recording, touring, filming, traveling, and lack of rest, are not a far cry from the hustle of everyday men who work tirelessly.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Dragging out these memories was a grind.
    Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • In recent years, safety concerns have been raised at the plant, which faced federal fines several years ago related to workplace safety practices, according to federal records.
    Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Messi spent all week training with Argentina’s national team, presumably to prepare for the friendly against Venezuela Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • However, after learning of the whistleblower complaint, county officials told the commission that four of its recent hires did not meet eligibility requirements, and they were expelled from the training program.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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