drum up

verb

drummed up; drumming up; drums up

transitive verb

1

: to bring about by persistent effort

drum up some business

2

: invent, originate

drum up a new method

Synonyms

• concoct
• construct
• contrive
• cook (up)
• devise
• excogitate
• fabricate
• invent
• make up
• manufacture
• think (up)
• trump up
• vamp (up)

Examples of drum up in a Sentence

anyone who drums up a better way of doing this tedious task will make a fortune

Recent Examples on the Web

The statue was one of nearly two-dozen placed throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland last year to help drum up interest for the new movie Paddington in Peru. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Until recently Everton’s interim CEO, Chong was at global real estate conference MIPIM looking to drum up interest in the new 53,000-seater stadium, its surrounding areas and the wider regeneration of Goodison Park. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025

Outside dental offices, workers, in white coats, try to drum up business. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025

The rescue recently posted about the pup on Facebook in hopes of drumming up more adoption interest. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drum up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup