drumroll
Announcing something big
A drumroll is a sustained sound produced by rapid, continuous beats on a drum, creating a rolling effect.
Drumrolls traditionally precede announcements, dramatic revelations, or climactic moments: And the winner is—drumroll please—Sarah Chen!
The word often appears figuratively to signal that something significant is about to be revealed, sometimes ironically for trivial announcements.
Preliminary section or presentation
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- revealMake something visible
- presentationFormal display to viewers
- fanfareCeremonial brass announcement
flourish · herald · pageantry · overture · prelude · inauguration · premiere · kickoff
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
climax · moment · pause · silence · breathless · countdown · reveal · announcement
introduction
Preliminary section or presentation
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- revealMake something visible
- presentationFormal display to viewers
fanfare · flourish · herald · pageantry · overture · prelude · inauguration · premiere · kickoff · debut
suspense
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
excitement · climax · moment · pause · silence · breathless · countdown · reveal · announcement · unveiling
snare
Device for catching prey
crescendo · timpani · cadence · rhythm · beat · tattoo · ruffle · military · marching · technique
- ceremonieswedding ceremony, wedding, weddings, graduation, graduations
- rhythmbeat, pulse, tempo, downbeat, upbeat
- drum soundsbeat, boom, hit, kick, tap
- festive soundsapplause, cheering, cheers, clapping, fanfare
- musical soundsnote, chord, tone, melody, beat
- rhythmic soundsheartbeat, ticking, clapping, tapping, pulse
drumrollsilence
Total lack of sound
quiet · stillness · hush · dead air · soundlessness
drumrollcymbal crash
Percussion strike sound
rim shot · single stroke · bass drop · sting · thud