drum 1 of 2

noun

ˈdrəm How to pronounce drum (audio)
Definition of drumnext
as in barrel
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder an oil drum

Synonyms & Similar Words

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drum

2 of 2

verb

as in to tap
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table

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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 drum
Noun
The eight-minute title track from 1977’s Aja is Steely Dan’s most ambitious jazz fusion epic, with a legendary drum solo by Steve Gadd. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 July 2026 During a knockout stage game between Colombia and Ghana, fans of both teams were playing drums, and Argentina supporters had their bombos. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Verb
Limitation has always been their jam — from the three-color palette to the two-person format, from Meg White’s satisfying-n’-simple drumming to Jack White‘s insistence on cheap plastic guitars. — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 For 90 minutes, supporters waved flags, drummed, danced, and sang, but by the end of the evening the soccer scoreline mattered far less than what unfolded in the crowd. — Latif Love july 4, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for drum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drum
  1. barrel
  2. tap
  3. tin
  4. bang
  5. bucket
Noun
  • West Texas Intermediate Crude fell 6% to just under $84 per barrel; Bitcoin is hovering just above $65,000.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 July 2026
  • As oil prices rose, China dramatically reduced its crude imports by around 5 million barrels per day, according to JPMorgan.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
Definition of barrel
Verb
  • Soccer fans tap to enter the Vine City MARTA station after the South Africa verses Czechia match on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • For five days and most of a sixth, The Athletic’s Ambition Index was tapping its toes like Sonic the Hedgehog, waiting to see some ambition.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of tap
Noun
  • After an overnight rest in the refrigerator, the dough is rolled, filled, sliced, and baked in muffin tins, whose individual cups catch any drips from the bubbling filling to create the signature crisp, sticky bottoms and dramatic spirals.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, the tiles are covered in a tin glaze, which gives each tile an opaque, white background.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of tin
Verb
  • The game actually drew a decent spring crowd of 10,000-12,000, partially because Chesney had worked so hard at banging the drum.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • According to the woman’s account, Leverett was banging his head against the walls and windows the day of the shooting.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
Definition of bang
Noun
  • The lawsuit alleges he was held by his legs and dunked headfirst in a bucket of cold water contaminated with human feces.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
  • People process, remember, and act on information more easily when it’s organized into three buckets instead of an unstructured, rambling, and confusing stream of ideas.
    — Carmine Gallo, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of bucket

Phrases Containing drum

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drugstores
drum
drumbeat
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Cite this Entry

“Drum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drum. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on drum

Nglish: Translation of drum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drum

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