strum
verb (used with object)
to play on (a stringed musical instrument) by running the fingers lightly across the strings.
strummed
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past participleof strum.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof strum.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
strumverb (used with object)to play on (a stringed musical instrument) by running the fingers lightly across the strings.
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.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday strummed on a guitar and also went to a shopping mall destroyed by a Russian strike as he visited Kyiv to show his country's support for Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
She persuaded me to play a cajón for the first time as she strummed her guitar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
String quartets strummed their way through classical covers of pop hits.
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2026
“Oganesson” is constructed around his delicate strummed riff, which recalls the ease of bossa nova, and it has an airiness and jazziness not found elsewhere on the record.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
It may also include a piano and/or other keyboard players, more percussionists, and one or more guitar players or other strummed or plucked strings.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
