drill 1 of 3

Definition of drillnext
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
The science payload to be landed there includes seismometers, a drill to allow emplacement of heat flow and electrical conductivity probes, and instruments to study the magnetic field and surface weathering. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 The clinics include water knowledge and hazards, dry land drills and games, water skills and drills, prone paddling on rescue boards, water rescue drills and relays. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
These pulses fracture and soften the rock, allowing drilling to proceed much faster while significantly extending drill bit life. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 About two-thirds of the 6,700 feet of 16 inch steel pipe beneath the river and crossing parts of the two parks would run through subterranean tunnels drilled by a high tech boring machine. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for drill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drill
Noun
  • Simplify your week with easy-to-prep meals and fresh ingredients, delivered for a price that fits into your busy, real-world routine.
    Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • That said, the actress has a few staples in her routine that help enhance her glowy, youthful appearance.
    Grace Scollo, InStyle, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • The exercise brought together the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force under Project Vantage, an initiative aimed at accelerating the testing and evaluation of maritime attack drones.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
  • Go through the mental exercise of all the potential difficulties.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The celebration opened with piercing fifes and thundering drums from the Young Patriots Fife & Drum Corps from Pleasanton, as a nod to America's quincentennial.
    Brian Hackney, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Another means of circumventing the protection of the real property company is through veil piercing using an alter ego theory.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The man advanced toward police, and one officer shot the man, the KBI said.
    Nathan Pilling July 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Kaiseem Smith, 16, is also being sought by police in connection with the fatal shooting of Billy Schmidt, who was fatally shot near his South Philadelphia home on June 6.
    Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Her suggestions include an IONNYK digital art frame, planting trees in a national park through the National Park Foundation or a custom travel trunk by Eva Joan Repair.
    Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • This season, some farmers may opt to plant crops that require less nitrogen fertilizer than corn, such as soy beans, in response to rising costs.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • In this week’s issue, the staff writer Paige Williams goes inside the booming repo industry, riding along with Matthew Pitman, a longtime repo man whose popular YouTube channel, RepoNut, chronicles the daily grind of repoing.
    Austin Elias-de Jesus, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • Mired in one of the worst slumps of his big-league career, Swanson is going through the day-to-day grind trying to get going offensively.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • The boy died during practice runs at Mason Motocross in Mason County on Sunday morning, CBS affiliate WOWK reported.
    Michael Guise, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • The Chiefs’ 2026 tight end room is crowded, so Pline’s most likely path could be finding a home on the team’s practice squad.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • With group play coming to a close and the Round of 32 approaching, the competition is heating up as teams look to punch their tickets to the knockout round in hopes of hoisting the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the final on Sunday, July 19.
    Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • That punched El Tri's ticket straight to the Round of 16 and kept the host nation's tournament dream alive for at least one more match.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drill. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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