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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Example Sentences
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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
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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
-
The water-resistant outer material guards your essentials against splashes, while elastic straps and multiple pockets help keep your bottles upright.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
15 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
-
City Council Speaker Julie Menin deserves credit for advancing legislation that protects synagogues, churches, mosques and other places of worship by deploying safety perimeters keeping protesters at a distance.—
Elliot Cosgrove,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The flagship, one of the brand’s most grandest European outposts and Tiffany’s largest in Europe, is rare to opens its doors for productions, making the cameo a notable moment.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
In December, opposition forces backing Machar seized military outposts in Jonglei state.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 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
-
The last month has seen extensive rain, tornado watches, then warnings and flooding as the Des Plaines and Fox rivers were filled beyond capacity, Kumar said.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Swiss watchmaker has teamed up with the Parisian museum on another four Métiers d’Art watches that pay tribute to great civilizations of the past.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Patrols.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patrols. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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