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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of patrol
Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Beyond reconnaissance missions Although Teledyne developed Black Recon with military users in mind, the company said the technology could eventually support public safety missions, including border security, critical infrastructure monitoring and maritime patrol operations.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Authorities said a trooper was patrolling northbound when a Honda Civic passed the patrol vehicle at speeds exceeding 90 mph.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
During the traffic stop, according to the lawsuit, officers pointed firearms at Cartee and handcuffed him behind his back before pulling him backward by the arms into the patrol vehicle and mocking him for being in pain.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Beyond reconnaissance missions Although Teledyne developed Black Recon with military users in mind, the company said the technology could eventually support public safety missions, including border security, critical infrastructure monitoring and maritime patrol operations.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Verb
No soldiers patrolled every street.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Authorities said a trooper was patrolling northbound when a Honda Civic passed the patrol vehicle at speeds exceeding 90 mph.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
-
Access to platforms was blocked off with bicycle-rack style barricades and roll-down gates as MTA police officers stood sentry, directing people to alternative transportation.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
-
But a Marine sentry was spotted outside the West Wing most of the day Saturday, usually a sign the president is at work.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, the WNBA’s leading scorer, missed the game with a lower leg injury.—
Jordan Puente,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
In May 2013, the Met returned the aforementioned kneeling figures that had long guarded its Southeast Asian art wing.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Some of the new settlements approved recently are retroactive legalizations of tiny outposts, while others are neighborhoods of existing settlements.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
The service The service is maybe a touch more reverential than other Four Seasons outposts, but interactions are warm and friendly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Australia is accelerating efforts to protect frontline troops from the growing threat of small drones, awarding a contract to defense technology firm OpenWorks under the Australian Defence Force’s Land 156 counter-drone program.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
-
More recent land news Republicans have introduced an amendment to a federal wildfire bill that would repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule protecting certain national forest lands from logging and roadbuilding, reports Brooke Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets — which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes — between the high camp and Denali Pass, the park has said.—
Becky Bohrer,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets — which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes — between the high camp and Denali Pass, the park has said.—
Becky Bohrer,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Scouts and Raiders is billed as telling the true origin story of the WWII commando unit of the same name, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, including its heavy recruitment of collegiate and professional football players.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
-
Disembarking in Berry’s Creek Canal required skulking through some swamp and reeds, commando style.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
At a game watch party in Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights, one of Los Angeles’ most historic and prominent Mexican American communities, the crowd was nearly entirely dressed in Mexico’s forest green.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
But thousands still had a chance to celebrate at watch parties across the city, including one in Brooklyn where fans turned an early morning bar crowd into a full-on celebration.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
