patting down

verb

present participle of pat down
as in hunting (through)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patting down
  1. shaking down
  2. running down
  3. finding out
Verb
  • On Thursday, Diamantis will be sentenced for crimes associated with shaking down contractors on four school building projects in three municipalities — Hartford, New Britain and and Tolland.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026
  • This brainstorm is aimed at shaking down travel booking platforms.
    — Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026
Definition of shaking down
Verb
  • The dress was crafted with contrasting fabrics, pairing a firmer, structured bodice with a plunging neckline and buttons running down the front placket with a softer skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Tammy Faye stuck by Bakker, often with tears running down her mascara, even as many saw his downfall as a fitting symbol of the greed and hypocrisy of the 1980s.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of running down
Verb
  • The lawsuit says that Carney trained Hoffman as a paramedic student and worked closely with him, only finding out about his death through the news.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As the officers recall the incident, Hondo focuses on finding out who the mole is and how to proceed with this information.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of finding out
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.

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patting
patting down
patty
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Cite this Entry

“Patting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patting%20down. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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