strum

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrəm 

: an act, instance, or sound of strumming

strum

2 of 2

verb

strummed; strumming

transitive verb

1

a

: to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing

strum a guitar

also : thrum entry 1 sense 1

b

: to play (music) on a stringed instrument

strum a tune

2

: to cause to sound vibrantly

winds strummed the rigging

—H. A. Chippendale

intransitive verb

1

: to strum a stringed instrument

2

: to sound vibrantly

strummer noun

Examples of strum in a Sentence

Verb

He strummed a tune on the guitar.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And her gossamer guitar strums are as faint as whispers, keeping time alongside echoey taps and supple upright bass. —Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024

When the track properly kicks in, the punchy bassline takes center stage in the mix while the higher drums, guitar strums, and vocals settle further in the background. —PCMAG, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

The processional wends its way across town led by a pickup truck that drags an open trailer full of musicians strumming guitars and leading the crowd in song. —Whitney Eulich, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 2024

With his hair knotted up in a pair of double-dutch braids and rocking a baggy black suit with white flames at the knees, MGK ripped through his amped version of the song while strumming a red acoustic guitar. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1764, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1777, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

strum

verb

ˈstrəm

strummed; strumming

: to play a stringed instrument by brushing the strings with the fingers

strummer noun