as in to guard
to walk or go around or through (an area, building, etc.) especially in order to make sure that it is safe
The squad had orders to patrol the area. The border is patrolled by the army.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patrol
Kevin Foster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
Shpylka had married a patrol officer last year, the statement said.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2026
Just before the school day ends, monitors still patrol the streets around Columbia Heights Public Schools, looking for ICE agents.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
Sanders got his start working in patrol as a uniformed officer.
—Kevin Foster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
Shpylka had married a patrol officer last year, the statement said.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
Officers patrolling the area spotted a vehicle matching the description and attempted to stop it.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2026
Just before the school day ends, monitors still patrol the streets around Columbia Heights Public Schools, looking for ICE agents.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
-
Rivian’s unique styling and inventive features like Kick Turn, the hoot owl and Gear Guardian, Rivian’s virtual sentry, add quirky appeal.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Kochab is the brighter of the two outer stars in the bowl of the Little Dipper (the other being Pherkad), which seem to march in a circle like sentries around Polaris, the North Star.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Reunions everywhere For almost an hour before the teams squared off, Warriors guard Pat Spencer sat next to and conversed with his younger brother Cam, a shooting guard on the Grizzlies.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Trojans guard Chad Baker-Mazara embraced a villainous role, while Donovan Dent was the hero, lifting the UCLA men’s basketball team to an 81-62 victory.—
Aaron Heisen,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Manhattan outpost was one of at least 102 Chinese police stations operating worldwide, run by regional Chinese public security services with direct links to the United Front, according to a 2022 report by Safeguard Defenders.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The Israel Defense Forces say their troops still control five key outposts on Lebanese territory.—
Jordana Miller,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Here's what to know about colorectal cancer -- at any age -- and how to protect yourself.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Practice a script that protects your needs and honors your generous spirit.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At the picket on Tuesday, WGA workers and members carried signs holding Ellen Stutzman, the guild’s executive director, accountable for alleged ULPs.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The picket came after three weeks of rolling 24-hour contract extensions.—
Jacob Sarracino,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Below, the troops run toward a Taliban position during a British commando offensive.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Day in, day out, American planes, drones, and commando teams go out and hunt terrorists across several continents.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And watches priced over $64,000 (CHF 50,000) are completely dominating the market, making up 89 percent of growth in 2025.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
26 Feb. 2026
-
This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The north was expected to be America’s rear guard, a place where values like democracy and women’s rights might have taken hold.—
Azam Ahmed,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
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And assassins from a coalition of all the local indigenous tribes — out for blood over the murder of Jimmy the Creek, one of their own, last episode — slit the throats of Ming’s rear guard.—
Sean T. Collins,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Patrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrol. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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