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
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The district plans to increase the number of patrol officers enforcing the rules and will deploy multilingual staff who speak English, Chinese and Korean.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 31 May 2026
This includes safety precautions at city hall or county buildings where public meetings are held, such as metal detectors or patrolling security guards.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
While both pointed to security gains in post-visit statements, armed gangs in the neighboring Artibonite region ambushed a police patrol, killing three Haitian police officers and a civilian, on the day of Landau’s visit.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The district plans to increase the number of patrol officers enforcing the rules and will deploy multilingual staff who speak English, Chinese and Korean.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
Verb
Police said the incident happened around noon on May 30 while officers were patrolling the station.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 31 May 2026
This includes safety precautions at city hall or county buildings where public meetings are held, such as metal detectors or patrolling security guards.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
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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
-
Robinson might not draw the primary defensive assignment guarding Spurs star big man Victor Wembanyama, a job that could fall to the Knicks' fleet of wings, but Robinson's offensive rebounding will be critical in not allowing second-chance opportunities.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Earlier in the game, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson limped to the locker room after Spurs forward Harrison Barnes was pushed into his right knee.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
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This hotel is the seventh outpost from the brand, which debuted in Milan in 2004 and has since grown to include properties in London, Bali, Beijing, Shanghai, and Dubai; new openings in Rome, Moscow, Tokyo, and more are slated to open between 2022 and 2025.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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Convenience megastore Buc-ee’s will open a new outpost in northeast Ohio after the company pledged to cover the $15 million infrastructure required to get it up and running.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
-
This sacrificial mechanism forces an impact to expend far more energy to penetrate the material, thereby protecting the stronger, load-bearing polymer bonds from failing during rapid deformation.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Climbers are urged to have their own pickets in case the protection placed by rangers and guides is missing.—
Becky Bohrer,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Interior designer Maite Granda used low straight top picket fencing at street level of this Florida cottage set far back from the street to give the facade a welcoming and open feel.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Special commando units were also deployed to the location and carried out intelligence-gathering missions and drone operations, the other two sources said, giving Israel a valuable perch from which to see into northern Iran during the war.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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Bin Laden’s wife lunges at a commando and is shot in the leg but not killed.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Noun
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While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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That announcement in turn coincided with the negative credit watch registered by S&P based on Paramount’s balance sheet valuation.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
4 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
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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 7 Jun. 2026.
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