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
Eric R. Danton, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
The album marks Mering’s first time executive-producing, working alongside her longtime collaborator Jonathan Rado and other producers, as well as Nick Movshon on bass, Homer Steinweiss on drums, Benny Bock on keyboards, and more.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Did you guys know Frankie Muniz moved to Harrisburg for a minute to play drums in the band Kingsfoil?
—Spin Team, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
Every Monday night in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, hundreds gather around a table in a public square, drawn by the pulse of drums, guitars and voices carrying aloft a centuries-old rhythm.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The teams brought 450 drums built to transport nuclear cargo, strong enough to survive a plane crash.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Waste from these operations was buried in drums and disposed of on-site, often without the safeguards that would be required today.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
With Pete Lents on vocals and drums and Cliff Stankiewicz providing bass, guitar and vocals, joined by Dan Vitco on keyboards and James Nelson on lead guitar and vocals opposite Matthew Hedrick on drums, this tribute band captures the stage success of Phil Collins during his collaboration years.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The boys played the drums and guitar, took karate and Muay Thai classes.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 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
Once the trio learned to play instruments—Dayton on guitar, Andreasson on bass, and Tripp on drums—La Peste became a fixture on the Boston music scene, where their influence exceeded their output.
—Eric R. Danton, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
The album marks Mering’s first time executive-producing, working alongside her longtime collaborator Jonathan Rado and other producers, as well as Nick Movshon on bass, Homer Steinweiss on drums, Benny Bock on keyboards, and more.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Did you guys know Frankie Muniz moved to Harrisburg for a minute to play drums in the band Kingsfoil?
—Spin Team, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
Every Monday night in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, hundreds gather around a table in a public square, drawn by the pulse of drums, guitars and voices carrying aloft a centuries-old rhythm.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
The teams brought 450 drums built to transport nuclear cargo, strong enough to survive a plane crash.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Waste from these operations was buried in drums and disposed of on-site, often without the safeguards that would be required today.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
With Pete Lents on vocals and drums and Cliff Stankiewicz providing bass, guitar and vocals, joined by Dan Vitco on keyboards and James Nelson on lead guitar and vocals opposite Matthew Hedrick on drums, this tribute band captures the stage success of Phil Collins during his collaboration years.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The boys played the drums and guitar, took karate and Muay Thai classes.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 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
-
These include not throwing cigarettes or matches out of moving vehicles and covering burn barrels with weighted metal covers.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The pipeline had been closed but will be reopened soon due to the Hormuz disruption, reportedly with an initial capacity of 250,000 barrels per day.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond its immediate subject, the film taps into broader concerns about the current global climate.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Every two years, the US taps an artist to transform its pavilion at the Venice Biennale.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The magnetic tins stack neatly or stick to your fridge for convenient storage.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
While strawberry shortcakes are usually made with biscuits, this recipe swaps them for tender little cakes baked in muffin tins.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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