drummer

American  

[druhm-er] / ˈdrʌm ər /

noun

• drummers
  plural

1. a person who plays a drum.

2. a commercial traveler or traveling sales representative.

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idioms

1. march to a different drummer, to be motivated by a different set of values than the average person.

drummer British  

/ ˈdrʌmə /

noun

1. a person who plays a drum or set of drums

2. a salesman, esp a travelling salesman

3. slang the slowest shearer in a team

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drummer More Idioms  

1. see march to a different beat (drummer).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drummers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of drummer

First recorded in 1565–75; drum ¹ + -er ¹

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Explanation

A drummer is a musician who plays the drums. The drummer in a rock band might play a huge set of many different drums and other percussion instruments. A professional drummer could play in a marching band, a classical symphony, or a country and western group. A casual drummer can be someone who taps on the bongoes in a city park or takes drumming lessons and practices in her basement. The word drummer comes from drum, which has a Germanic, imitative root — it's a word that sounds like its meaning.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drummer drummers

The atmosphere resembled a football terrace, with a drummer and trumpeter accompanying fans singing Sheffield Wednesday songs.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Earlier this year, the chair of the Featured Artists Coalition and Blur drummer David Rowntree told the BBC is was "virtually impossible now to make touring pay for itself".

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

They’re caught here at full strength near the end of that run, after saxophonist Chris Potter had taken over for Steve Wilson, and drummer Nate Smith stepped in for Billy Kilson.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo suffered an onstage medical emergency during a show this week.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

The thin roof resonated under the rain: it was like being inside a great drum, which might give way any moment under the crazy assault of the drummer.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

You’ll have to ask the drummers — they set the tempo, and they get excited and it kind of ramps up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

"Not a single blow is random," he explains as a trio of craftsmen land expert strikes that create the darker more complex tones so prized by jazz drummers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Streamer IShowSpeed took to the field at the New York New Jersey Stadium first, alongside drummers and dancers in vibrant tracksuits.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Today, drummers have to play to click tracks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

All one hears is the drummers practising; they have installed themselves somewhere and practise brokenly, dully, monotonously.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

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