sentinel

sen·ti·nel | \ ˈsent-nəl

How to pronounce sentinel (audio)

, ˈsen-tə-nəl \

Definition of sentinel

(Entry 1 of 2)

sentinel

sentineled or sentinelled; sentineling or sentinelling

Definition of sentinel (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to watch over as a sentinel

2 : to furnish with a sentinel

3 : to post as sentinel

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about sentinel

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Examples of sentinel in a Sentence

Noun a lone sentinel kept watch over the fort

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The city’s Christmas tree, missing branches and all, stands sentinel over a park that is missing a few things too. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "Merry Christmas? S.F.’s subdued tree-lighting ‘par for the course for 2020’," 11 Dec. 2020 The Court is back as a sentinel protecting the free exercise of religion, even in a health emergency. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Fireworks Over Religious Liberty," 26 Nov. 2020 Another piece of San Francisco’s history will soon disappear: The glowing Coca-Cola sign that has stood sentinel for Bay Bridge commuters for nearly a century is coming down. — Vanessa Arredondo, SFChronicle.com, "‘Please don’t tear it down’: San Francisco losing its 83-year-old Coca-Cola billboard," 26 Oct. 2020 The chancellor said of the 433 sentinel tests of a random campus sampling done in Tuscaloosa so far this week, three came back positive. — Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, "University of Alabama reports second straight drop in weekly COVID-19 positives," 18 Sep. 2020 In the sameness that life often breeds, Mabel stood as a sentinel to change, a bundle of unpredictability. — Steve Straessle, Arkansas Online, "OPINION | STEVE STRAESSLE: Not quite right," 5 Sep. 2020 The iconic Woodlawn Lake Lighthouse, standing like a sentinel in the middle of the lake. — Richard Marini, ExpressNews.com, "The Sunday drive is back thanks to coronavirus, and we suggest 7 scenic San Antonio drives to get you out of the house," 7 Aug. 2020 Cobey has been trying to convince the government of her home state of Illinois to set up a sentinel surveillance plan that could alert officials to coming surges of COVID-19 and flu cases. — Marla Broadfoot, Scientific American, "Coronavirus and the Flu: A Looming Double Threat," 4 June 2020 If so, these ancient sentinels would be just the latest example of a trend experts are documenting around the world: Trees in forests are dying at increasingly high rates—especially the bigger, older trees. — Michael Quinton, National Geographic, "CREATE A FREE NAT GEO ACCOUNT TO CONTINUE READING," 28 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Expanding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sentinel surveillance programs and other surveillance programs to offer tests not only to those who ask but also to those who may not know to ask is also on Biden's Plan to Combat Coronavirus. — USA Today, "Comparing Trump and Biden's plans to end the COVID-19 pandemic," 2 Nov. 2020 And there are certain types of events or sentinel events that require a deeper dive before continuing to ensure the safety of current and future participants. — Adrian Hernandez, STAT, "Covid-19 clinical trial pauses ‘show the system is working’," 14 Oct. 2020 Auburn continues to rely on self-reporting and sentinel testing to keep track of its numbers. — Giana Han, al, "Auburn University reports second drop in positive COVID-19 cases," 22 Sep. 2020 It has been guarded every hour of every day since 1937 by elite Tomb Guard sentinels. — Jesse Ryan, USA TODAY, "VR: Witness a sacred ritual and America’s highest honor at Arlington National Cemetery," 29 May 2017 When Chinese leaders gaze out toward the Pacific, their panorama is obstructed by a string of military airfields, naval anchorages, radar emplacements and listening posts sentineled by U.S. forces and their allies. — Andrew Browne, WSJ, "To China, America Finally Looks Vulnerable," 14 Mar. 2017

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

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Dictionary Entries near sentinel

sentimental value

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Last Updated

20 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Sentinel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sentinel. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

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