patting down

Definition of patting downnext
present participle of pat down

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
  • The Bruins held the ball with the clock running down, and Leger-Walker dribbled it to around the top of the three-point line and stopped.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The phone hit Green near his ear, with blood quickly running down his neck following the impact.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 15 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2026.

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