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
Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
In the nearby woods, a woodpecker drums for its mate.
—Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
This tour, however, is no-Fats and also no-fat, with her and just a basic guitar-bass-drums lineup.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026
Luca, the drummer for the Hazards, plays bass for Elemental Sparks as Julian takes the drums.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
So Gadson taught himself how to play the drums.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Thunder sticks are so loud that they were banned at the World Baseball Classic finals, even as drums, trumpets and cowbells were permitted.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
At the time, Gadson played drums with Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and recorded three studio albums.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
The vocals are loud and clear, and the drums have good punch, though the cymbals lack clarity and sparkle.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 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
The cut opens with a robotic assemblage of classic synth sounds that briefly gives way to swinging drums and a bright piano melody.
—Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
In the nearby woods, a woodpecker drums for its mate.
—Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
This tour, however, is no-Fats and also no-fat, with her and just a basic guitar-bass-drums lineup.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026
Luca, the drummer for the Hazards, plays bass for Elemental Sparks as Julian takes the drums.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
So Gadson taught himself how to play the drums.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Thunder sticks are so loud that they were banned at the World Baseball Classic finals, even as drums, trumpets and cowbells were permitted.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
At the time, Gadson played drums with Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and recorded three studio albums.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
The vocals are loud and clear, and the drums have good punch, though the cymbals lack clarity and sparkle.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Mar. 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
-
One trading company booked a vessel to haul 1 million barrels from Iraq on Wednesday, according to lists of charters compiled by Bloomberg.—
Alex Longley,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil were transiting the strait per day.—
Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hegseth cuts Ivy League ties in military education shake-up, taps Hillsdale.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Whether he’s fueled by anger or just having a laugh, at 71 Jackson still taps into that same energy on Hope and Fury.—
Steve Appleford,
SPIN,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s in those iconic metal tins, they were discontinued around 2010 due to declining sales.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
