drum up
Britishverb
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Bring about by persistent effort, as in I'm trying to drum up more customers , or We have to drum up support for this amendment . This expression alludes to making repeated drumbeats. [Mid-1800s]
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Devise, invent, obtain, as in He hoped to drum up an alibi . [Mid-1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hyperscalers are still searching for the right tone to drum up support.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
This week in the Don’t Short Yourself newsletter, Genna Contino described Kalshi’s attempt to drum up interest in betting on who will win “Dancing with the Stars.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
The programme has turned the squad, who drum up support for the American football team, into celebrities in their own right thanks to its mix of viral moments and drama.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
The public offering is expected to hit the market next month after a “road show” during which SpaceX will seek to drum up interest from both institutional and retail investors.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
His lawyer claimed the police were harassing people in the neighborhood, trying to drum up shaky evidence and confessions.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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