as in taps
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically
absentmindedly drumming his fingers on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drums
Waiss Aramesh, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
La Familia members typically bang drums and sing their hearts out from opening to closing whistle but decided to stay quiet and brought no flags or instruments to the stadium.
—Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The biggest difference between the old Field and the new Field is in the drums.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 18 May 2026
Fighters — draped in elaborate costumes and protective charms believed to ward off injury and channel spiritual power — perform to the beat of sabar drums, emphasizing the sport’s spiritual side, which for many is as important as the fight itself.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The sound of cymbals and drums filled the air at Naylor's Run Park in Upper Darby on Saturday afternoon.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Featuring Steven Bernstein on brass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Douglas Wieselman on winds and guitar, Briggan Krauss on saxophone and guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass, these arrangements are more muscular and robust than many of their original incarnations.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Jon Stewart served as host for the night, which got off to a fast start as Kevin Nealon drew a portrait of a woman from the crowd and Jimmy Kimmel (on the bass clarinet), Conan O’Brien (on the guitar) and Stewart (on the drums) jammed out on stage with Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Lutes.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the pressure on federal lawmakers is also shifting to state-level leaders to fill the gaps as the shutdown drums on.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Last year, the venue saw a sunset set from Kaytranada, a rare performance by Kate Hudson, a masterclass on the drums from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and more.
—Waiss Aramesh, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
La Familia members typically bang drums and sing their hearts out from opening to closing whistle but decided to stay quiet and brought no flags or instruments to the stadium.
—Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
The biggest difference between the old Field and the new Field is in the drums.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 18 May 2026
Fighters — draped in elaborate costumes and protective charms believed to ward off injury and channel spiritual power — perform to the beat of sabar drums, emphasizing the sport’s spiritual side, which for many is as important as the fight itself.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The sound of cymbals and drums filled the air at Naylor's Run Park in Upper Darby on Saturday afternoon.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Featuring Steven Bernstein on brass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Douglas Wieselman on winds and guitar, Briggan Krauss on saxophone and guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass, these arrangements are more muscular and robust than many of their original incarnations.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
Jon Stewart served as host for the night, which got off to a fast start as Kevin Nealon drew a portrait of a woman from the crowd and Jimmy Kimmel (on the bass clarinet), Conan O’Brien (on the guitar) and Stewart (on the drums) jammed out on stage with Love on the Spectrum star Abbey Lutes.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Verb
Krieger and Densmore, the two surviving members of The Doors, are the backbone of the video, revisiting the signature guitar and drums parts more than a half-century after they were originally laid to wax.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of another room with a priest and young woman growling on the bed, the exorcisms in The Wailing are accompanied by chanting crowds, firepits, and drums beating as a great spectacle is made of the ritual.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The video cuts to Camila, who reads the report outloud as Matthew drums on the bongo and offers his commentary on the report.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the pressure on federal lawmakers is also shifting to state-level leaders to fill the gaps as the shutdown drums on.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
These cues told the robot which drums to strike and when.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drums
Noun
-
The results might not be there, but the at-bats and the barrels are still there.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Earlier in the day, the House also killed a bill that would regulate the sale of gun barrels.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The series also taps into the current craze of new-adult stories — that is, focused on characters in that stage of life between teen and full-fledged adulthood — many specifically set in the pressure-cooker environment that college and university settings naturally supply to make romance spark.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
-
His new films taps into the mood in his native Russia in 2022 with a twist-laden tale of privilege, betrayal, jealously, primordial survival instinct and compromise in a Russian provincial city.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Bright teardrop earrings hang from metal tins filled with Japanese cooling beads.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
-
Employees in the kitchen rolled dough and prepped mini pie cups in 5-inch tins.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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