drumbeat

noun

drum·​beat ˈdrəm-ˌbēt How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
Synonyms of drumbeatnext
1
: a stroke on a drum or its sound
also : a series of such strokes
2
: vociferous advocacy of a cause
3
: drumfire sense 2
drumbeater
ˈdrəm-ˌbē-tər How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
noun
drumbeating
ˈdrəm-ˌbē-tiŋ How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
noun

Synonyms of drumbeat

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Examples of drumbeat in a Sentence

I could hear the drumbeat of a parade down the street. a dizzying drumbeat of interviews in the hours following her winning of the Academy Award
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Glowing yellow, complemented by textiles – not in contrast, but in harmony – and black cinema tools that act like rhythmic drumbeats. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 LePage’s decision to spend more time in Florida after leaving the governor’s mansion has also crept into the consideration of at least some voters following a drumbeat of attacks by Dunlap. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026 That status quo has been marked by a drumbeat of devastating fires in recent years and increasing worries about more in the future. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The group placed a drumbeat of conservative proposals in front of Colorado voters in recent years, often winning at the ballot box or forcing concessions from state leaders. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drumbeat

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drumbeat was in 1817

Rhymes for drumbeat

See All Rhymes for drumbeat

Browse Nearby Words

drum armature
drumbeat
drumbeater
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Cite this Entry

“Drumbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drumbeat. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

drumbeat

noun
drum·​beat ˈdrəm-ˌbēt How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)
: a stroke on a drum or its sound
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