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
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Algerian flags waved above the crowd as chants echoed through the plaza, alongside the sounds of drums, horns and singing.
—J.m. Banks
june 15, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
The drums and shaker keep their mechanized pace, but the electronics constantly brighten and fade like flowers blooming in time lapse.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
There are families, elderly people, young people, children in strollers, a soundtrack of whistles and drums.
—Alessia Arcolaci, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Unlike many electronic performers, Rüfüs Du Sol build their shows around live instrumentation, with drums, synthesizers, guitars and vocals, creating a multisensory experience that feels more like a dance floor rock concert than a DJ set.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Several men in traditional djellaba robes and balgha slippers banged on drums and led the joyous chants to extend the party, which was hosted by the Moroccan American Council Association of South Florida.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
Ghana fans will bring the love, the drums, the music and the dance to this World Cup.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 June 2026
The team is staying at the historic Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, where a display featuring Ivorian masks, drums and traditional clothing welcomes players and visitors.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 9 June 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
Both types of drums are traditionally large, made with wood and cowhide skins that are sometimes tacked onto the body with metal studs, rings or rope.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Algerian flags waved above the crowd as chants echoed through the plaza, alongside the sounds of drums, horns and singing.
—J.m. Banks
june 15, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
The drums and shaker keep their mechanized pace, but the electronics constantly brighten and fade like flowers blooming in time lapse.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026
There are families, elderly people, young people, children in strollers, a soundtrack of whistles and drums.
—Alessia Arcolaci, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Unlike many electronic performers, Rüfüs Du Sol build their shows around live instrumentation, with drums, synthesizers, guitars and vocals, creating a multisensory experience that feels more like a dance floor rock concert than a DJ set.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 14 June 2026
Several men in traditional djellaba robes and balgha slippers banged on drums and led the joyous chants to extend the party, which was hosted by the Moroccan American Council Association of South Florida.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
Ghana fans will bring the love, the drums, the music and the dance to this World Cup.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 10 June 2026
The team is staying at the historic Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, where a display featuring Ivorian masks, drums and traditional clothing welcomes players and visitors.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 9 June 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 world’s oil stockpiles have fallen – sharply – by 190 million barrels over the past several months.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Four years later, a group of barrels were shipped to Barbados to the Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery to mature before being returned to France in 2024 for bottling.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
In revisiting that story here, Stanton taps into fresh reserves of emotion and also invests the simple, familiar image of a tire swing dangling from a tree with a vast totemic significance.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
-
McMahon said Greenberg’s acquisition of The Hartford’s former complex at 1 Griffin Road North taps into a trend seen across the country.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The three infused olive oils -- Garlic, Spicy Red Pepper and Green Goddess -- are packaged in tins, made with only real ingredients to elevate any dish.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
-
Henry is a must-visit for small-batch wines and tins of briny fish.—
Tanya Edwards,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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