patrol

noun

pa·trol | \ pə-ˈtrōl

Definition of patrol

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security

b : the person performing such an action

c : a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat

2 : a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop

patrol

verb

patrolled; patrolling

Definition of patrol (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to carry out a patrol

transitive verb

: to carry out a patrol of

Other Words from patrol Example Sentences Learn More about patrol

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Examples of patrol in a Sentence

Noun

The guard makes a patrol of the building every hour. Soldiers are on patrol along the border. Army patrols combed the area.

Verb

The squad had orders to patrol the area. The border is patrolled by the army.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Two deputies coaxed the goat into a patrol car and gave it a ride to the San Martin Animal Shelter. — Thy Vo, The Mercury News, "Goat, lost in Gilroy, hitches a ride in police car," 8 Sep. 2019 Marziano walked back to his patrol car and called Williams a profane name, the footage showed. — Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, "Aurora police beat, shocked man who was having a seizure, federal lawsuit says," 6 Sep. 2019 In the Murrieta area, ash fell like snow as police patrol cars with lights flashing cruised slowly through neighborhoods to announce evacuations Wednesday evening. — Los Angeles Times, "Tenaja fire near Murrieta grows to 1,974 acres as evacuations remain in place," 5 Sep. 2019 The singer later tweeted a video of justice being served in a patrol car, where an officer was writing him a ticket for fishing without a license. — Ed Masley, azcentral, "Fans narc on Dierks Bentley for fishing in Colorado without a license," 3 Sep. 2019 The officers attempted to stop him, but the man fled and then began shooting at their patrol car, the police said. — Sharon Otterman, New York Times, "Masked Gunman Opens Fire on Police in Brooklyn Backyard," 2 Sep. 2019 The gunshots struck one of two troopers inside the patrol car, Cesinger said, after which the gunman fled and continued shooting. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Death toll in West Texas shooting rampage rises to 7," 1 Sep. 2019 The gunshots struck one of two troopers inside the patrol car, Cesinger said, after which the gunman fled and continued shooting. — Jake Bleiberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Authorities still don’t know what prompted Texas shooter’s rampage," 1 Sep. 2019 The driver grabbed a rifle and fired at the troopers' patrol car, wounding one of them, according to Lt. — Dakin Andone, CNN, "What we know about the West Texas mass shooting," 1 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Four dispatchers were overseeing seven 911 lines when Stevens called, while nine officers were patrolling the city, as is typical for the last couple years. — The Washington Post, oregonlive, "‘I don’t know why you’re freaking out,’ Arkansas 911 dispatcher told a woman minutes before she drowned," 31 Aug. 2019 Four dispatchers were overseeing seven 911 lines when Stevens called, while nine officers were patrolling the city, as is typical for the last couple years. — Anchorage Daily News, "‘I don’t know why you’re freaking out,’ a 911 dispatcher told a woman minutes before she drowned," 31 Aug. 2019 While patrolling the goal line as a side judge in a game last year, Glenn Fucik was the target of a flying bourbon bottle hurled his way from the student section. — Ross Dellenger, SI.com, "Behind the Scenes as SEC Refs Get a Unique Primer at Georgia Camp," 22 Aug. 2019 Shortly after the Douglass shooting, the city school board reversed its stance on the subject and voted in support of allowing officers to carry guns while patrolling the halls. — Talia Richman, baltimoresun.com, "Broken locks, poor lighting: Baltimore schools found to have ‘significant security and safety issues’," 20 Aug. 2019 Shots rang out while the agents were patrolling near Fronton, Texas, the Rio Grande City Station Marine Unit reported. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "A US Border Patrol boat on the Rio Grande takes fire from the Mexican side," 9 Aug. 2019 Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said that Officer Keith Buchanan made a distress call early July 21 while patrolling an isolated area. — CBS News, "Police officer staged shooting to make it look like he was attacked, chief says," 2 Aug. 2019 These drones will have a cruising speed of Mach .46 while patrolling and can travel at least 1,900 miles to a target. — Allison Barrie, Fox News, "New laser-equipped drones will take out missile threats against the US," 7 Sep. 2018 The car may be linked to the slaying of Robert Marquez, 55, who was shot and killed around 11:30 p.m. on June 9 while patrolling a neighborhood in north Houston. — Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Houston police release license plate of vehicle possibly linked to shooting of security guard," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patrol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.