patting down

Definition of patting downnext
present participle of pat down
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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patting down
Verb
  • The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.
    Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • And that’s important, especially as players age, because teams like the Dolphins seize on shaking down injured, or underperforming talent.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Flight meant running down the slope of the roof and jumping.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Tuesday’s game ended with defensive replacement Will Benson, acquired in exchange for Hajjar ahead of the 2023 season, running down a long drive by San Francisco’s Daniel Susac to secure the victory.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Griffin recalls the moment Ahead of his debut, Griffin met with reporters to discuss his career up to this point, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and finding out he was getting promoted to the Big Leagues.
    Patrick Damp, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • But for Hall, the convoluted process of finding out about the ectopic pregnancy, and then undergoing emergency surgery, added layers to her pain.
    Emily Brindley Health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
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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Cite this Entry

“Patting down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patting%20down. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

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