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
Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Carter has to hide behind pieces of waist-high cover and move around Simms, who patrols the corridors of the ship, to try and make it to his destination.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The menu features Scottish cuisine made from local ingredients, like scallops collected by one of the distillery’s stillmen, local venison, and vegetables grown on the island, while a whisky trolley patrols the dining room offering a range of drams each night.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025
The network of over 2,500 volunteers patrols neighborhoods across the state, informing residents of ICE’s presence.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Homicide data from the Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The secondary, headlined by senior cornerback Brandon Ford and senior defensive back Jaleal Allen, patrols the back end of a swarming defense.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025
The Homeless Outreach Team regularly patrols the area with a focus on sections known to be routinely used by homeless individuals.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Smith plays Hanna, a cantankerous nonagenarian, who patrols the Golden Gate Bridge every day and intervenes when people get too close to the edge.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
The country’s navy, which is responsible for the protection of these surfing areas, hardly patrols.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Carter has to hide behind pieces of waist-high cover and move around Simms, who patrols the corridors of the ship, to try and make it to his destination.
—Echo Apsey, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The menu features Scottish cuisine made from local ingredients, like scallops collected by one of the distillery’s stillmen, local venison, and vegetables grown on the island, while a whisky trolley patrols the dining room offering a range of drams each night.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025
The network of over 2,500 volunteers patrols neighborhoods across the state, informing residents of ICE’s presence.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Homicide data from the Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The secondary, headlined by senior cornerback Brandon Ford and senior defensive back Jaleal Allen, patrols the back end of a swarming defense.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025
The Homeless Outreach Team regularly patrols the area with a focus on sections known to be routinely used by homeless individuals.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Smith plays Hanna, a cantankerous nonagenarian, who patrols the Golden Gate Bridge every day and intervenes when people get too close to the edge.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrols
Verb
-
That second tier of the East, the one the Pistons are hoping to join, is ripe for the Magic, a tough-minded, young team that already guards like one of the NBA’s elite.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This coating guards the grapes against bacteria and fungi.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rows of lights stood like sentries above, adorned with flat visors that guided the glow onto the action.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Twin Cities,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Toby, a towering tan tapeworm sculpture, greets employees at the front door to promote Elanco's Credelio Quattro medicine, which protects dogs against fleas, ticks and tapeworms.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The munition can also be diverted mid-flight if battlefield conditions change — a feature that commanders say minimizes collateral damage and protects soldiers.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This Pascagoula favorite, which has since spawned two additional outposts, is best known for their overstuffed po’boys.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Sep. 2025
-
These were used as outposts for Egypt’s defense against incursions from the west, as well as places of exile and sometimes of escape.—
Vanessa Taylor,
Big Think,
25 Sep. 2025
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 are in place across parts of the northern Rockies for possibly several inches of snowfall over the weekend.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Wisconsin weather watches and warnings What is a heat advisory?—
Brandi D. Addison,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Patrols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrols. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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