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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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patrol
Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2026
In the late afternoon of the first day, Lilian and Martha were on patrol duty at the back of the learning center.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
But the Daxbot does significantly more than deliver your Postmates order or patrol a city block.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
But on Tuesday, a judge granted a request from the neighborhood council to require Olive Park’s owner, starting on March 2, to secure the doors and windows and hire a security patrol.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2026
In the late afternoon of the first day, Lilian and Martha were on patrol duty at the back of the learning center.
—Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
The department patrols 36 square miles.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
But the Daxbot does significantly more than deliver your Postmates order or patrol a city block.
—Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
-
Police had taped off several square blocks around Sixth Street, while local police and federal authorities, including Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents, were at the site, according to Austin police officers serving as sentries.—
Jack Myer,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Police had taped off several square blocks around Sixth Street, while local police and federal agents, including ATF agents were at the site, according to Austin police serving as sentries.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to regular forces, thousands of temporary police officers have been deployed, and army troops — generally confined to barracks — are patrolling streets and guarding polling stations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
But Carolyn was guarded about the revival of John, treading carefully.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Future outposts on the moon will need to be as self-sufficient as possible to avoid the high cost of constantly shuttling supplies from Earth.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The hotel delivers direct access to the beach (a rarity here) and there’s an outpost of the namesake restaurant two doors down.—
Tim Chester,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Designed to protect infrastructure from earthquakes, wind, and industrial vibrations, the invention offers a low-cost, reliable alternative to other damping systems.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If not, pickets at school sites and another rally will follow Friday.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
The people in line behind me were annoyed, checking their watches and peering ahead trying to figure out what was taking so long.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
And, like Higgins, Nam recently told Entertainment Weekly that his forgiveness can also be bought — to the tune of a new Rolex watch.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2026.
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