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
ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Decades of growing Irish patriotism resulted in Irish Aid societies and annual parades of bagpipes and drums.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Paint rollers serve as toilet paper handles, reclaimed wood accents line the walls, and refurbished oil drums pose as outdoor seating.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Irish dance troupes jumped and twisted every few hundred feet while bands armed with drums and bagpipes played plied their trade.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
The prophecy was fulfilled when their sister Helen joined them on — very unpredictable — drums.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Dave Grohl plays drums, and absolutely rips.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
By now, the standard sound of rage rap — redlining drums deployed with abandon, frenetic, almost spastic chord arrangements, and often shouted, mantra-like lyrics delivered in an impassioned scream — has become a predictable shorthand for overtures to a younger audience.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 10 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
Men, horses and even cattle moved through South Boston’s hills in the morning wind as residents watched from stoops — some in pajamas and wrapped in blankets, appearing to have been awakened by the sound of drums and bagpipes.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Decades of growing Irish patriotism resulted in Irish Aid societies and annual parades of bagpipes and drums.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
Paint rollers serve as toilet paper handles, reclaimed wood accents line the walls, and refurbished oil drums pose as outdoor seating.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Irish dance troupes jumped and twisted every few hundred feet while bands armed with drums and bagpipes played plied their trade.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
The prophecy was fulfilled when their sister Helen joined them on — very unpredictable — drums.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Dave Grohl plays drums, and absolutely rips.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
By now, the standard sound of rage rap — redlining drums deployed with abandon, frenetic, almost spastic chord arrangements, and often shouted, mantra-like lyrics delivered in an impassioned scream — has become a predictable shorthand for overtures to a younger audience.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 10 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
-
The problem is compounded by construction blocking portions of the lanes and delivery vans navigating around barrels to park.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Hundreds of thousands of barrels of Russian oil are headed to Cuba, in a test of Washington’s embargo on the island nation.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Japan taps strategic reserves, South Korea explores coal and nuclear power, and Vietnam braces for potential jet fuel shortages as countries manage energy crises.—
Sheikh Saaliq,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Independence Eve, a free, popular program that taps live orchestral music and a drone show to celebrate Independence Day, will not take place this year on July 3, said Eric Lazzari, executive director of the Civic Center Conservancy, which works with the city to program and maintain the park.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Add ice, seal tins and shake hard for six to 10 seconds.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Although synonymous with Christmas cookie tins, these classic treats are also a spring favorite.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drums. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
