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
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
The new species belongs to a group of fish known as Sciaenidae, commonly called drums or croakers.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Raised in a musical household — his mother a singer, his stepfather a musician with a home studio — Thomas gravitated to drums and bass.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
These drums were also used to send secret messages during the maroonage process.
—Karla Gachet, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
During the performance, spectators watched a vibrant show with drums and acrobatics.
—Lauren Uppal, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Throughout the entire performance, the band explored visual enjoyment as well, using open-reel tape decks, CRT display drums, and electric fan harps, delivering a large-scale show that shook the entire venue, relentlessly building the crowd’s excitement.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2025
The pair soon began playing music with Chris Mars, a high school dropout who started on guitar before switching to drums.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Soldiers from the Old Guard, wearing tricorne hats and bright-red uniforms, marched past, amid a flourish of fifes and drums.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
Tommy did a great job on the drums, don’t get me wrong.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
The new species belongs to a group of fish known as Sciaenidae, commonly called drums or croakers.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Raised in a musical household — his mother a singer, his stepfather a musician with a home studio — Thomas gravitated to drums and bass.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
These drums were also used to send secret messages during the maroonage process.
—Karla Gachet, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
During the performance, spectators watched a vibrant show with drums and acrobatics.
—Lauren Uppal, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Throughout the entire performance, the band explored visual enjoyment as well, using open-reel tape decks, CRT display drums, and electric fan harps, delivering a large-scale show that shook the entire venue, relentlessly building the crowd’s excitement.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2025
The pair soon began playing music with Chris Mars, a high school dropout who started on guitar before switching to drums.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
Soldiers from the Old Guard, wearing tricorne hats and bright-red uniforms, marched past, amid a flourish of fifes and drums.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
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At launch, there will be 18 maps to compete on and 30 weapons to unlock, with dozens of customization options allowing users to fine tune their guns’ scopes, grips, barrels, and more.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
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Master distiller emeritus Chris Morris selected 63 barrels for this release that were distilled on two production dates in 2007, making this a 17-year-old bourbon, and the whiskey was matured on the fourth floor of Warehouse J and the first floor of Warehouse G at the Brown-Forman Distillery.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Her Smell director (and, relevantly, former Kim’s Video clerk) fully taps into his dark side for this sadistic little number about a community terrorized by a child-abducting serial killer.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
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And yet, Doja continuously taps the well while adapting it to her own aesthetic, moving fluidly between sweet harmonies and nimble raps in classic Doja form.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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