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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of patrol
Jason Green, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
On May 6, a ranger spotted scavenger birds gathering near Highway 26 while conducting a routine patrol, reports the Jackson Hole News & Guide’s Billy Arnold.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Children are sent to patrol remote areas for days without food or supplies.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
In a statement Friday, Atherton police Chief Steven McCulley said officers will be stepping up patrols in the area to bring more attention to bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle safety.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 10 May 2025
On May 6, a ranger spotted scavenger birds gathering near Highway 26 while conducting a routine patrol, reports the Jackson Hole News & Guide’s Billy Arnold.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
Verb
The Sheriff’s Department must be fully funded, and the sheriff must be provided with the necessary tools to attract and retain the best personnel to patrol our streets.
—John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Children are sent to patrol remote areas for days without food or supplies.
—Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
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Occasionally, gang members would come rushing in and that’s when auto sentry guns would be useful.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
One such ancient story centers on the bronze sentry Talos.—
Sofia Giannuzzi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Wings, featuring nine new players after posting a 9-31 record in 2024, stayed even with the Lynx for much of the first half but fell behind during the third quarter, in which Collier and Courtney Williams combined for 33 points — their two-player actions proving impossible for Dallas to guard.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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The veteran that was part of the Liberty’s core will miss the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury, leaving the squad without a starter who averaged 9.5 point per game on 45% shooting that also guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter option on some nights.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
Noun
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This international folk horror co-production stars Odessa Young as Eva, a widow struggling to survive in a bleak 19th century fishing outpost in the Arctic.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
9 May 2025
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China currently maintains two overseas military outposts, one located in Djibouti near the Red Sea and another located in Cambodia on the South China Sea, which opened last month.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 May 2025
Verb
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The emergency fund is meant to protect you against a job loss, health crisis, car breakdown or major household repair.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Gmail Account Attack Defense Step Three — Use A Passkey This one really should be a non-brainer: stop using passwords and switch to a passkey to protect your Gmail account.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Noun
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The miniskirt featured pickets and showcased a white Puma logo at the waist band.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
16 May 2025
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The rangers called for a nationwide day of action on March 1, encouraging protesters to hand out flyers to cars, put signs in front of webcams, hang banners, hang American flags upside down as a signal of distress, march in gateway towns, rally inside parks and picket around park signs.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
The Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the film, Reno plays a former WWI commando turned domestic servant whose peaceful life is upended by mobsters collecting an old debt.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
16 May 2025
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Watch out for Scorch and other commandos' many appearances as the show advances, too.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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While the Classic looks a little more built-up, and has what may be a larger, physical rotating bezel, both watches have what’s known in some circles as a squircle design.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Under her watch, the company distributed such festival firepower as The Boy and the Heron and Memoir of a Snail.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
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 24 May. 2025.
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