drill 1 of 3

1
as in routine
an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity shuttling the kids between extracurricular activities is all part of the suburban drill

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2
as in exercise
something done over and over in order to develop skill doing vocabulary drills all afternoon in preparation for the test

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drill

2 of 3

verb (1)

drill

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow he drills soybeans in the same rows with corn

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drill
Noun
Two days after the drill, the Australian warship made a port call at Japan's Yokosuka naval base, according to photos shared by a ship spotter. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 Maye's day went well beyond an 87.5% completion percentage in team drills. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 June 2025
Verb
Rave drilled a leadoff double in the fifth off Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene, sending the ball down the right-field line. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025 And condolences to whoever got drilled by that errant football courtesy of Tom Brady. Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
Noun
  • But that doesn’t mean his bedtime routine has to change.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 13 June 2025
  • Consider them the ultimate way to make his morning routine go more smoothly.
    Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In Gilbert’s hands, reappraising the decade from a feminist perspective is more an exercise in cataloguing than in analysis: the ideology of the era is not subtle, and its narratives don’t need decoding.
    Dayna Tortorici, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • At his age, Jones thoroughly believes exercise is essential to living a full, healthy life — not just physically, but mentally.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Some of them aren’t physically or mentally ready to handle the grind and the pressure of playing in the National Hockey League.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 June 2025
  • However, there's a reason why teams have become proactive about buying players more rest throughout the grind of the 82-game regular season.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • All are fodder for her intricate textile works, a parallel practice to her floral-design studio.
    Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 6 June 2025
  • This procedure, known as plasma exchange therapy, has become a trendy practice in certain circles, like Silicon Valley executives and extreme biohackers.
    Jamie Ducharme, Health, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • That is rare in the current AI landscape, where most training options come from consultants or influencers with little oversight.
    Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • While the Washington Commanders still have some time to avoid seeing their key wide receiver act as a holdout for training camp, the process will only get more difficult as time goes on.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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