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
Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 5 June 2025
Cal Fire status update Situation Summary The fire is listed as patrol status, where firefighters will continue to monitor for hotspots, mitigate any hazards, and monitor the control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
What Penn has long required is single vision to end its Balkanized corridors, patrolled by three separate police departments and cleaned by three separate maintenance crews (each knows where to stop based on the pattern of the floor tiles).
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Noun
That county’s program also encouraged racial profiling among police on patrol, the ACLU found.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 5 June 2025
Cal Fire status update Situation Summary The fire is listed as patrol status, where firefighters will continue to monitor for hotspots, mitigate any hazards, and monitor the control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
In April, Johnston announced the deployment of a dedicated 10-officer unit to patrol 16th Street on foot, bicycles and motorcycles.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
What Penn has long required is single vision to end its Balkanized corridors, patrolled by three separate police departments and cleaned by three separate maintenance crews (each knows where to stop based on the pattern of the floor tiles).
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrol
Noun
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The tree had long been a way marker and memory maker: a site of wedding proposals and remembrance ceremonies, a sentry in photos from one-in-a-lifetime family vacations, taped to fridges across the world.—
Amelia Nierenberg,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Anduril makes everything from small drones to sentry towers used to police the U.S.-Mexico border systems to enable pilotless vehicles.—
William Hartung,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Then guard Courtney Vandersloot drove up the court after a Fever turnover, lunged toward the basket with the ball in her hands and crashed directly into Aari McDonald.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started distributing food boxes on May 26 at three hubs guarded by private contractors inside Israeli military zones.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Steiner Studios and the New York City Economic Development Corporation broke ground on a outpost in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
-
Riva has so far opened outposts in Monaco, Venice, Saudi Arabia, Paris, and, of course, Italy, but this marks the yard’s first venture in Spain.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 June 2025
Verb
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The Marines are tasked with protecting federal facilities and personnel, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command, and will operate under Task Force 51—a contingency unit created to coordinate military support for domestic emergencies.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 June 2025
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Although these challenges are external and somewhat unavoidable, business leaders can better protect themselves, starting with ensuring their network connectivity is robust.—
Sander Barens,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Those nine figures topped the picket signs of actors and writers during Hollywood strikes in 2023.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
21 May 2025
-
Traditional homes may suit a Chippendale pattern or classic straight pickets.—
Abid Haque,
Architectural Digest,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Thus: Arnold and his commando buddies fight an alien — a big, ugly, awesome one created by the Stan Winston studio with mandibles and long hair and the ability to disappear.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
9 June 2025
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The original movie, which premiered in 1987, sees Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team of commandos get hunted through the jungles of Central America by an elusive alien killer.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Harmon highlights Angel Studios’ innovative payment system for filmmakers, which is based on watch time for a film or show per month on the Angel Studios platform as a percentage of the entire watch time for all the content available.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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The two limited-edition watches include the men’s Rainbow Mosaic, a clear multi-function watch with a rainbow face, and the Rainbow Logo, a women’s clear analog watch with a rainbow double G logo.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
3 June 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 15 Jun. 2025.
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