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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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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There are various factors at play, most prominently guarding a horse’s health from a tight turnaround in favor of other high-money stakes.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
17 May 2025
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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
Noun
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Photo: Courtesy of the Oberoi Group This is the second wildlife resort for Oberoi, the luxury hospitality brand with outposts scattered across some of the most covetable and far-flung destinations on the planet.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 May 2025
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After his latest excursions along the eastern coasts of Norway, Jarrett now says his team believes that rather than solely relying on concentrated trading outposts, Norse sailors frequently utilized a decentralized network of ports on the region’s numerous islands and peninsulas.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
22 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
-
Yes, it should be protected from reopening as another waste processing plant.—
Sarah McCoy,
Hartford Courant,
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
-
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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The top 25 buyers spent more than $111 million and were granted a private VIP reception with Trump, while the top four also received a limited edition Trump Tourbillon watch that sells for $100,000.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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All his Thunder teammates were seated on stage in new Rolex watches.—
Anthony Slater,
New York Times,
22 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 29 May. 2025.
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