drilled; drilling; drills
1
a
: to fix something in the mind or habit pattern of by repetitive instruction
drill pupils in spelling
b
: to impart or communicate by repetition
c
: to train or exercise in military drill
2
a(1)
: to bore or drive a hole in
(2)
: to make by piercing action
drill a hole
b
: to shoot with or as if with a gun
c(1)
: to propel (something, such as a ball) with force or accuracy
drilled a single to right field
(2)
: to hit with force
drilled the batter with the first pitch
1
: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances by revolving or by a succession of blows
also
: a machine for operating such an instrument
2
: the act or exercise of training soldiers in marching and in executing prescribed movements with a weapon
3
a
: a physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility and skill especially by regular practice
b
: a formal exercise by a team of marchers
c
: the approved, correct, or usual procedure for accomplishing something : routine
4
a
: a marine snail (Urosalpinx cinerea) destructive to oysters by boring through their shells and feeding on the soft parts
b
: any of several mollusks related to the drill
5
: a drilling sound
: a western African baboon (Mandrillus leucophaeus synonym Papio leucophaeus) having a black face and brown coat and closely related to the mandrill
1
a
: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown
b
: a row of seed sown in such a furrow
2
: a planting implement that makes holes or furrows, drops in the seed and sometimes fertilizer, and covers them with earth
drilled; drilling; drills
1
: to sow (seeds) by dropping along a shallow furrow
2
a
: to sow with seed or set with seedlings inserted in drills
b
: to distribute seed or fertilizer in by means of a drill
: a durable cotton twilled fabric
Synonyms
Examples of drill in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the nerve-jangling sound when a dentist drills a tooth
drilled the target from 100 yards away
Noun (1)
shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill
doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test
Verb (2)
he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Jung Hoo Lee made it 4-0 by drilling a slider 105 mph off the right-field wall and driving in Ramos.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 May 2024
Witt drilled the baseball down the left-field line.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024
Washington has been drilling all the Angels infielders on fundamentals since the start of spring training, but Tucker didn’t even join the organization until mid April.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 8 May 2024
Nearly two years after the spill was discovered, the company drilled new water wells next to each house, but questions about the safety of drinking the water persisted.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 6 May 2024
Miami gets drilled by Boston in a 4-1 first-round ouster.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 May 2024
The gun’s serial number had been drilled off and a black marker was used to color in its silver frame, according to testimony.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 4 May 2024
The three proposals to replace the Wastewater plant, drill new wells and replace deteriorating sewer lines are in a $17.5 million bond package on the May 4 ballot.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Honorable mention: 'Stardew Valley' 1.6 This is just a drill.
—Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
The requirement, passed by state lawmakers in 2018, doesn’t specify a certain type of drill.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Using a scooper and a drill, the lander will obtain samples, both from the surface and as deep as 2 meters below the surface, according to NASA.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Some schools might hold simulated drills, like the ones Siegel experienced.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Kern is recovering from a finger injury, and Greene reportedly is fully recovered from Achilles surgery but sat out spring drills to play it safe.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
After an Emmy-winning performance on Roots, Gossett became first Black performer to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in 1982's An Officer and a Gentleman opposite Richard Gere.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
Advertisement On March 9, a line-drive comebacker drilled Treinen in the right side of his rib cage.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Jung Hoo Lee made it 4-0 by drilling a slider 105 mph off the right-field wall and driving in Ramos.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 May 2024
Witt drilled the baseball down the left-field line.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024
Washington has been drilling all the Angels infielders on fundamentals since the start of spring training, but Tucker didn’t even join the organization until mid April.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 8 May 2024
Nearly two years after the spill was discovered, the company drilled new water wells next to each house, but questions about the safety of drinking the water persisted.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 6 May 2024
Miami gets drilled by Boston in a 4-1 first-round ouster.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 May 2024
The gun’s serial number had been drilled off and a black marker was used to color in its silver frame, according to testimony.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 4 May 2024
The three proposals to replace the Wastewater plant, drill new wells and replace deteriorating sewer lines are in a $17.5 million bond package on the May 4 ballot.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
Noun
Advertisement Computer numerical control, or CNC, milling machines — which usually cost a few thousand dollars — are devices that guide drills to produce intricate and precise mechanical parts from slabs of metal.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Honorable mention: 'Stardew Valley' 1.6 This is just a drill.
—Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 3 May 2024
The requirement, passed by state lawmakers in 2018, doesn’t specify a certain type of drill.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024
Using a scooper and a drill, the lander will obtain samples, both from the surface and as deep as 2 meters below the surface, according to NASA.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Some schools might hold simulated drills, like the ones Siegel experienced.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
Kern is recovering from a finger injury, and Greene reportedly is fully recovered from Achilles surgery but sat out spring drills to play it safe.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2024
Research by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Social Dynamics and Wellbeing Lab suggests an association between active shooter drills and increases in depression, stress and anxiety among students, parents and teachers.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
After an Emmy-winning performance on Roots, Gossett became first Black performer to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as drill instructor Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in 1982's An Officer and a Gentleman opposite Richard Gere.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near drill
Cite this Entry
“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drill. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drill
1 of 5 noun1
: a tool for making holes in hard substances
2
: the training of soldiers in military skill and discipline
3
: a physical or mental exercise regularly practiced
4
: a marine snail that bores through oyster shells and feeds on the soft parts
drill
2 of 5 verb1
: to instruct or train by repetition
drill a child in multiplication
drill troops
2
: to bore or make a hole in with or as if with a drill
drill a tooth
drill a hole
driller
noun
drill
3 of 5 noun1
: a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown
2
: a planting machine that makes holes or furrows, drops in seed, and covers it with earth
drill
4 of 5 verb
: to sow with or as if with a drill
drill
5 of 5 noun
: a strong cotton fabric in twill weave
Etymology
Noun
probably from Dutch dril "a tool for drilling holes," derived from early Dutch drillen (verb) "to drill"
Noun
perhaps from earlier drill "a trickling stream"
Noun
shortened from drilling "heavy cotton fabric," from German Drillich (same meaning)
Medical Definition
drill
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to make a hole in with a drill
the dentist drilled the tooth for a filling
: to make a hole with a drill
painless dental drilling
drill
2 of 2 noun
: an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances (as bones or teeth) by revolving
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