Thesaurus results for DRUMS

drums 1 of 2

noun

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

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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

The name came from the orange stripe painted across the 55-gallon drums where the chemical mix was stored. — Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026 Along with electric guitar, the instruments common to Chicago blues include drums, harmonica, piano, double bass, and electric bass. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 The music legend improved during the scene and let Stamos play drums. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 The vibrant sounds of electric harps from the Harp Twins and Viking drums from the Volfgang Twins filled the Faerie realm at Vasa Park in South Elgin during Saturday’s third annual Faeries of the Forest Festival. — Daily Herald, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 In Japan, baseball games are nine innings of songs and chants, drums and noise sticks. — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 The grunge guitars, hungover acoustics, and sandpaper drums are elevated by the easy vocal interplay between Venus O’Brion, Jack Medlyn, and Maxwell Elphick. — Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 Later, his elementary school music teacher encouraged him to switch from drums to bass. — Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 20 July 2026 Four Tet’s sense for sound design shines from crushed 8-bit drums to the hypnotic handpan grooves and sharp synth melodies. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 19 July 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 cartel approved a production quota increase of around 188,000 barrels per day from September.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Another significant portion of those 13 million barrels were replaced with emergency stockpiles that Western nations, led by the United States, have been releasing for months.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of barrels

Verb

But that’s not the case for Sofwave, a non-invasive skin-tightening device that taps ultrasound to lift and firm skin on the face, neck and body.

— Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
An InStyle editor taps two hairstylists to get their insights on the biggest color trends this season.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 July 2026