Thesaurus results for DRUMS

drums 1 of 2

noun

plural of drum

as in barrels

a metal container in the shape of a cylinder an oil drum

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drums

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of drum

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

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 drums

Noun

Then, the drums and bass line kick in, as do Antone’s haunting harmonies. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026 Readily available stem separators automatically split a complete song into vocals, instruments, bass, and drums, commenters noted. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 My own favorite album is Huntington Ashram Monastery—split equally between piano and harp, with the note-perfect complement of Ron Carter’s hypnotic double bass and Rashied Ali’s hypersensitive drums. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The wings in the ad appeared to be heavily coated in a thick, dark sauce, and some of the pieces didn’t clearly resemble drums or flats. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026 During the Great Depression, fireworks shows went dark, and Grucci found a side job playing drums in a band. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 The name came from the orange stripe painted across the 55-gallon drums where the chemical mix was stored. — Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 Along with electric guitar, the instruments common to Chicago blues include drums, harmonica, piano, double bass, and electric bass. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 The music legend improved during the scene and let Stamos play drums. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 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 streets are lined with fresh fish laid out on beds of ice and barrels filled with fragrant spices sold at a quarter of the price found in the Grand Bazaar.

— CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026
With fracking — which is already outlawed on offshore platforms in California waters, and is widely viewed as an environmentally degrading and often risky process — Gilda’s production would jump to about 4,000 barrels a day.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of barrels

Verb

While Kersten taps his Swedish security connections for information about Wohmann, the intrepid journalist relies on chutzpah and archival detective work.

— Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
But that’s not the case for Sofwave, a non-invasive skin-tightening device that taps ultrasound to lift and firm skin on the face, neck and body.

— Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of taps

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
Pour into regular-sized muffin tins and bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

— Elisa Zied, Parents, 15 July 2026