Thesaurus results for DRUMS

drums 1 of 2

noun

Definition of drums next

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 suddenly, drums and flags fill the air. —

Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026 Mescal will star as Paul McCartney, who split main vocal duties with Lennon and played the piano, drums and guitar. —

Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026 In typical Toliver fashion, the record tells of his partying habits and luxurious lifestyle, but peeking through heavy layers of pop samples, dark synths and peppy trap drums, Toliver sheds light on his loving relationship (with fellow singer Kali Uchis) and a newfound sense of peace in his life. —

Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Thompson has explored visual art since moving to New Zealand, as well as starting an improvisational guitar-drums duo called Tondo. —

Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026 After the group began marching down 7 Mile Road, onto Telegraph and eventually into the nearby neighborhood, both Sarr and Branch stopped multiple times to start dancing with the crowd to the beat of their anti-ICE chants and drums. —

Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Jan. 2026 The genre-blending jam band — consisting of Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, keys, guitar), Trevor Weekz (bass), and Cotter Ellis (vocals, drums) — has announced dates for its 2026 tour. —

Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026 One day, Juurlink, who played the drums, was practicing at the home of his best friend, a bass player. —

Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 Others banged on pots and pans and drums, blew whistles and honked car horns. —

Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 26 Jan. 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

By contrast, even in the early 1900s gasoline could be transported in barrels and cans.

— Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Rain barrels are growing in popularity, and come in a variety of designs and materials, including old-fashioned wood and metal, and newer plastic models.

— Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026