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.
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Recent Examples of patrolling
If the emergency vehicle behind you has solid blue and red lights shining, the officer inside is patrolling the area and just wants to be visible.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 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
National Guard troops have begun patrolling in Memphis, the Memphis Police Department confirmed with NPR.
—NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 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
National Guard troops have begun patrolling in Memphis, the Memphis Police Department confirmed with NPR.
—NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrolling
Verb
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Miller was injured early in the second quarter while guarding Quentin Grimes, extending his arm trying to fight through a screen while slipping simultaneously on his left foot on a wet spot on the floor.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Oct. 2025
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Lawrence, once an interview-show staple, has retreated from the spotlight in recent years, choosing her movie roles sparingly and closely guarding her private life.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gray was an advocate for protecting the dunes, even writing op-eds in local newspapers.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
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First, women have higher estrogen levels than men, and before menopause, estrogen may be protecting cardiovascular health—which in part may explain why women tend to develop heart events at later ages than men.—
Alice Park,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patrolling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrolling. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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