patrol
verb (used without object)
(of a police officer, soldier, etc.) to pass along a road, beat, etc., or around or through a specified area in order to maintain order and security.
patrolling
-
present participleof patrol.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She said Mohammed was killed after running away from soldiers patrolling their village of Al-Rihiya, in the south of the occupied West Bank.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
Police have been patrolling the entrance of the hospital, and the glass from shattered windows lay scattered on the pavement mixed with medical masks.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Instead, these legendary predators may still be quietly patrolling the region's waters, largely unseen.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026
Even after the strikes, Israeli drones stayed in the air patrolling for almost an hour, they said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Military police manned all campus entrances, patrolling the comings and goings of everyone on the grounds.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
