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 trial for a man accused of fatally running down his 17-year-old girlfriend in Burlington in 2023 continued Monday with his attorney disputing the findings of the medical examiner who ruled the death a homicide.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Mario Alberto Morales is accused of running down an immigrant with his car, causing serious injuries.
    — Silvia Foster-Frau, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of running down
Verb
  • But for right now, your energy will be best spent finding out what other resources are available to you.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
  • For Last Ditch, that begins with finding out whether a new set of owners can remain in the building on terms the business can afford.
    — Tara Knight, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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