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, 27 Apr. 2026
That includes ground troops, a 15,000-member air force that runs Iran’s missile program, and a navy of some 20,000 that patrols the Strait of Hormuz.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 Apr. 2026
Usually an antibody protein known as immunoglobulin A, or IgA, patrols the inner walls of the body’s organs, blocking pathogens from entering cells.
—Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
For example, the city plans to eliminate its police unit that patrols the Berryessa BART station.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The department patrols 36 square miles.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department not only patrols the unincorporated areas of the county, but also provides police service for the cities of Saratoga, Cupertino and Los Altos Hills.
—Katie Nielsen, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Meet Cycling Mikey, the man who patrols London’s streets and reports people who are on their phones while driving.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
Homicide data from the Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
That includes ground troops, a 15,000-member air force that runs Iran’s missile program, and a navy of some 20,000 that patrols the Strait of Hormuz.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 Apr. 2026
Usually an antibody protein known as immunoglobulin A, or IgA, patrols the inner walls of the body’s organs, blocking pathogens from entering cells.
—Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
For example, the city plans to eliminate its police unit that patrols the Berryessa BART station.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The department patrols 36 square miles.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department not only patrols the unincorporated areas of the county, but also provides police service for the cities of Saratoga, Cupertino and Los Altos Hills.
—Katie Nielsen, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Meet Cycling Mikey, the man who patrols London’s streets and reports people who are on their phones while driving.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patrols
Noun
-
The soldiers would have stayed as sentries before and after the performance, symbolically guarding the legacy of Taiwan’s founder.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Police had taped off several square blocks around Sixth Street, while local police and federal authorities, including Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents, were at the site, according to Austin police officers serving as sentries.—
Jack Myer,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The property got its start as a villa and still guards that intimate, private feel while providing thoughtful hotel amenities like a gym, a yoga deck, and in-room spa services.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Washington might consider restoring the Fulbright Program, and work on better coordination between the US State Department, which issues visas, and Homeland Security, which guards entry points.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And unions have been printing and distributing signs, and organizing pickets and mega-rallies.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But people managed to hold small pickets in a few cities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray protects hair from heat damage caused by curling irons, flat irons and blow dryers.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Ticket to Work protects beneficiaries during their transition.—
French Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Mexico’s network of diplomatic outposts is by far the most extensive in the United States.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The Administration listed field offices for closure, then delisted them, though some rural outposts, in Iowa, Montana, and West Virginia, offer only phone service owing to the loss of staff.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Additional police resources were deployed to the area from neighboring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Team.—
Alexandra Koch , Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Coin lithium batteries are used in a wide variety of household products like electronic devices, jewelry, remote controls, toys and watches.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
-
After the storm moves through, there will be freeze warnings and watches in effect across many areas of Colorado.—
Dave Aguilera,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patrols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrols. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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