drumbeat

/ˈdrʌmbiːt/ (bre, ipa) · [drˈʌmbˌit] /ˈdrʌmbiːt/ (ame, ipa) · [drˈʌmbˌit] /ˈdrəm-ˌbēt How to pronounce drumbeat (audio)/ (ame, mw)

drumbeat — noun

  • drumbeatsingular
  • drumbeatsplural

1. a short burst of sound made when a drum is struck once

1.名詞B1
釋義

a short burst of sound made when a drum is struck once

例句

A sharp drumbeat echoed across the school hall before the dance began.

adjective + drumbeat to describe the quality of the sound

Each drumbeat told the rowers when to pull their oars together.

drumbeat as a timing signal for coordinated movement

同義詞
  • beat

    broader and can refer to any repeated pulse, not only a drum

  • tap

    usually lighter and softer than a drumbeat

  • thump

    heavier and less specifically musical

文法句型

a drumbeat

a single/sharp/heavy drumbeat

用法筆記

Usually names one audible beat rather than the whole rhythm. Common in music, marching, and performance settings where a single strike stands out clearly.

常見錯誤

❌The whole drumbeat was too fast.
✅The whole rhythm was too fast.
💡'drumbeat' usually refers to one beat or its sound, not the entire pattern.

2. a loud, repeated public call for people to support an idea or take action

2.名詞C1
釋義

a loud, repeated public call for people to support an idea or take action

例句

The paper kept up a steady drumbeat for cleaner air in the city.

drumbeat for [cause] — steady public advocacy

Weeks of online drumbeat from parents pushed the council to reopen the pool.

同義詞
  • campaign

    broader and more organized, not always loud or repetitive

  • push

    less formal and can describe private pressure as well

  • clamour

    focuses more on noisy demand than on steady repetition

文法句型

a drumbeat for [cause]

keep up a drumbeat for [cause]

用法筆記

Usually appears with for plus a public issue or campaign. Common in news and political writing, and it suggests steady pressure over time rather than one brief request.

常見錯誤

❌The charity made one drumbeat for clean water yesterday.
✅The charity kept up a drumbeat for clean water for weeks.
💡This figurative sense suggests repeated public pressure, not one brief act.