as in guarding
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of patrolling
An officer patrolling pulled onto the block and saw the group assaulting the employee.
—
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Authorities said extra officers and detectives were patrolling the area Thursday when a resident near Angus Drive and the park called 911 shortly after midnight to report what police described as a loud, banging noise sounding from their vehicle and a figure standing next to the car.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Federal troops were seen in Memphis for the first time on October 10, the Associated Press reported, including soldiers accompanied by Memphis police officers patrolling at the Pyramid, a landmark in the city.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The number of police officers patrolling the streets has increased for the first time since the pandemic, though the force is still 500 shy of its staffing goal.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
Soldiers with automatic rifles were also seen patrolling the scene, AFP reported.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Another video obtained by Reuters appeared to show armed Hamas members patrolling streets.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
According to the Associated Press, National Guard troops began patrolling parts of Memphis in early October with Lee’s backing.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, leaders in Memphis announced Tennessee National Guard troops will begin patrolling the city on Friday.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Authorities said extra officers and detectives were patrolling the area Thursday when a resident near Angus Drive and the park called 911 shortly after midnight to report what police described as a loud, banging noise sounding from their vehicle and a figure standing next to the car.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Federal troops were seen in Memphis for the first time on October 10, the Associated Press reported, including soldiers accompanied by Memphis police officers patrolling at the Pyramid, a landmark in the city.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The number of police officers patrolling the streets has increased for the first time since the pandemic, though the force is still 500 shy of its staffing goal.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2025
Soldiers with automatic rifles were also seen patrolling the scene, AFP reported.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Another video obtained by Reuters appeared to show armed Hamas members patrolling streets.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
According to the Associated Press, National Guard troops began patrolling parts of Memphis in early October with Lee’s backing.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, leaders in Memphis announced Tennessee National Guard troops will begin patrolling the city on Friday.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrolling
Verb
-
Vessel-tracking data suggests the Harmony network forms an arc stretching from Murmansk eastward to Novaya Zemlya and north to Franz Josef Land, effectively a tripwire guarding the Northern Fleet’s principal bases.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
According to the Anti-Deformation League the Totenkopf was adopted by the SS and was particularly associated with the SS-Totenkopfverbande, which was responsible for guarding concentration camps.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As drone warfare evolves, the service aims to field layered defenses capable of protecting maneuver units against everything from quadcopters to cruise missiles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Patronis said the Democratic strategy is more about controlling the agenda than protecting benefits.—
Leonardo Feldman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patrolling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrolling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share