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.
But a drumbeat of doubt began in Elwood’s head in 2010 on a tour of Sarajevo, where Bosnian-Serb forces had committed atrocities during the war that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Streamers have been issuing a steady drumbeat of annual price hikes in recent years. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 On the other hand, the preseason Lane drumbeat is getting more intense than the Megalovania track. — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Nearly two years after his shooting of Thompson, Mangione’s court appearances attract a steady drumbeat of press and supporters. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 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

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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 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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