as in guards
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 patrols
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
The agency, which patrols unincorporated areas of the county, investigated 18 homicide deaths in 2025 after ending the previous year with 37 homicides — a 54% decrease.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Crossroads visitors may also be familiar with the company’s security robot, Lance, that patrols the area around the building.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
The ship — homeported in Newport Harbor — typically patrols coastal waters from the Mexican border to the Channel Islands.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 3 Jan. 2026
Fletcher said his agency patrols six cities that contract with the county, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could eventually show up in one of them — like Arden Hills, Little Canada or Vadnais Heights.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
The agency patrols 6,000 miles of international border between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025
The Cambridgeshire Police, which patrols the area, arrested two people at the scene in connection with the incident, authorities said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
The city is also home to the 3rd Fleet, which patrols 50 million square miles of the Pacific.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
Homicide data from the Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
The agency, which patrols unincorporated areas of the county, investigated 18 homicide deaths in 2025 after ending the previous year with 37 homicides — a 54% decrease.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Crossroads visitors may also be familiar with the company’s security robot, Lance, that patrols the area around the building.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
The ship — homeported in Newport Harbor — typically patrols coastal waters from the Mexican border to the Channel Islands.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 3 Jan. 2026
Fletcher said his agency patrols six cities that contract with the county, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could eventually show up in one of them — like Arden Hills, Little Canada or Vadnais Heights.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025
The agency patrols 6,000 miles of international border between the United States, Mexico and Canada.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025
The Cambridgeshire Police, which patrols the area, arrested two people at the scene in connection with the incident, authorities said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
The city is also home to the 3rd Fleet, which patrols 50 million square miles of the Pacific.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrols
Noun
-
Kochab is the brighter of the two outer stars in the bowl of the Little Dipper (the other being Pherkad), which seem to march in a circle like sentries around Polaris, the North Star.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
14 Dec. 2025
-
The pair later designed pieces for various regiments of the Royal Guards, the sentries protecting Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace in London.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But her mother guards her fiercely, because even the most minor imbalance in her small, cloistered world could bring the seizures back again.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Last summer’s political violence — and a subsequent break-in at the Capitol by a nude intruder who guards found sitting in the Senate President’s Chair — increased political pressure to harden security.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Or are the neighbor's dogs enjoying the gap between two pickets?—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
16 Jan. 2026
-
According to the organization's strike map on its website, there are no strikes or pickets planned in Michigan.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Grassley has argued that the practice protects checks and balances, encourages the White House to consult with senators, and prevents administrations of either party from jamming through prosecutors and judges who lack local support.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The settlement agreement protects the anonymity of the affected youth and families while securing the withdrawal of the government’s demands for their medical records — and those of their fellow patients, Silver said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As Ars Technica reports, space startup Vast has opted to build a smaller and more feasible interim station, dubbed Haven-1, which will serve as the precursor for much larger outposts capable of continuous habitation in the more distant future.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
22 Jan. 2026
-
This Greek brand with outposts in the towns of Imerovigli and Oia alike stands out for its first-class views of the caldera.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Israeli military has amassed two major groups of armored vehicles in Sheikh Radwan, to the north of Gaza City, according to the imagery, with additional detachments of armored vehicles stationed along roads that lead toward Israel.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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Although the much smaller Michino’o/Togitsu metal foundry detachments could not compete with the Ōhashi unit in terms of sheer noise and numbers, these girls were in high spirits this fine and yet‑too‑hot hot morning.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Winter storm watches have already been issued across all of southern New England from Sunday morning through Monday evening.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
About 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings -- and in many places both.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patrols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrols. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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