- a drum beat made by hitting the rim and the head of a drum with a drumstick at the same time: A rim shot can be used to add a more driving beat to the song.
- the sound of a beat struck on both the rim and head of a drum followed by a cymbal crash, used to signal that a joke has been made, as on a television program: The movie wisely acknowledges that the laughs are better served with a wink and a nod than a rim shot and a laugh track.
- a shot that touches the rim of the hoop: A rim shot that didn't land lost them the game.
