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 Your correspondent was there as a dozen new arrivals were dropped off by border patrol. — The Economist, "Joe Biden faces a humanitarian crisis at the southern border," 16 Mar. 2021 The Taurus driver, identified by the patrol as Jacob Smith, 21 of Lakeville, was not seriously hurt. — Tim Harlow, Star Tribune, "Man killed in crash east of Mankato," 15 Mar. 2021 The highway patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board are looking into the cause of the crash, while CBP leads the human trafficking investigation. — Ray Sanchez, CNN, "'A violent gamble.' Crash that killed 13 undocumented migrants highlights perils of desperate border crossings," 6 Mar. 2021 Timberline Ski Area patrol and staff used ropes to evacuate 42 people stranded on a broken lift Saturday night. — oregonlive, "Timberline ski patrol, staff used rope evacuation to rescue 42 people stuck on broken ski lift," 28 Feb. 2021 More than 2,000 unaccompanied migrants were intercepted by U.S. border patrol over the past week, according to The New York Times. — Jemima Mcevoy, Forbes, "Psaki Describes Migrant Facility For Children As Most ‘Humane’ Option," 28 Feb. 2021 Anderson will be the executive assistant chief over patrol and administration, which includes the 911 call center and the police academy. — Cassandra Jaramillo, Dallas News, "Dallas Police Chief Eddie García promotes two former competitors for his job," 26 Feb. 2021 Turner also discussed security at the U.S. Capitol, where National Guards troops are still on patrol and barbed-wire fencing still wraps around the complex following the Jan. 6 riot. — Fox News, "Biden’s ‘radical’ foreign policy agenda is giving Iran ‘out’ to become nuclear state: Rep. Turner," 22 Feb. 2021 After the Capitol attack, the group suspended its program of making trips to the U.S./Mexico border to unofficially assist in border patrol and drug interdiction efforts. — cleveland, "What do Ohio militia members say about the Capitol attack?," 21 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Foreign navies protecting their countries’ interests also patrol the international waters outside each country’s territorial zone. — Shola Lawal, The Christian Science Monitor, "Swim together or sink alone: African states unite to confront pirate threat," 29 Mar. 2021 Additionally, members of the San Diego Police Department’s beach team patrol the sand, boardwalks and Mission Bay. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Going boating? San Diego police and lifeguards warn there are rules to follow," 28 Mar. 2021 These groups patrol the neighborhood on bicycle, apprehending or threatening those suspected of working as informants for the security forces. — Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, "Myanmar is descending into chaos. A Yangon neighborhood is in the eye of the storm.," 18 Mar. 2021 The officer, who serves in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and whose primary role was to patrol diplomatic premises, was not on duty when Everard disappeared, police said. — Elian Peltier, BostonGlobe.com, "Woman’s disappearance prompts outcry over safety on London’s streets," 11 Mar. 2021 The Saudi vessels that patrol the waters of Hodeidah have control over which commercial ships can dock and unload their cargo. — Alex Platt And Mark Baron, CNN, "Famine has arrived in pockets of Yemen. Saudi ships blocking fuel aren't helping," 10 Mar. 2021 All the parks rely on seasonal workers to patrol trails, develop interpretive programs, facilitate visitor safety and manage campgrounds. — Zak Podmore, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Trump-mandated exams are making it hard to hire seasonal workers for national parks in Utah and across the U.S.," 6 Mar. 2021 During the course of the protests, he was reassigned to patrol at downtown’s Central Precinct, the target of vandalism and graffiti by some demonstrators. — oregonlive, "For Oregon cops of color, George Floyd’s killing brought anger, disgust and layers of complications," 5 July 2020 Miyamoto also implored the groups of volunteers being set up to patrol in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood to behave responsibly. — Michael Williams, San Francisco Chronicle, "S.F. officials, Asian American community leaders rally at Portsmouth Square to denounce anti-Asian violence," 22 Mar. 2021

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.