patrol
puh-TROHL
Patrol (noun) means a group of soldiers, police officers, or guards that moves through an area to watch over it or look for trouble. Example: “A night patrol checked the locked gates around the warehouse.”
noun
1
A group of soldiers, police officers, or guards that moves through an area to watch over it or look for trouble.
"A night patrol checked the locked gates around the warehouse."
"A police patrol drove slowly through the neighborhood after dark."
"The border patrol spotted movement near the fence line."
verb
1
To move regularly through an area in order to guard it or check for problems.
"A security guard patrols the car park every evening to check for trouble."
"Officers patrol the downtown area on foot during weekend nights."
"Guards patrolled the perimeter of the compound every hour."
How to use patrol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo walk or travel around an area regularly to keep it safe, or the group of people doing that.
Common pairings
police patrol
patrol the streets
on patrol
border patrol
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Word forms
- Plural
- patrols
- Third person singular
- patrols
- Past tense
- patrolled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A night _____ checked the locked gates around the warehouse.
Etymology
From French patrouille, originally meaning "a night-watch" or literally "a tramping about," related to patte, "paw" or "foot."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “patrol” mean?
The word “patrol” means a group of soldiers, police officers, or guards that moves through an area to watch over it or look for trouble. In plain terms, to walk or travel around an area regularly to keep it safe, or the group of people doing that.
How do you pronounce “patrol”?
“Patrol” is pronounced puh-TROHL (/pəˈtɹoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “patrol” in a sentence?
Here is “patrol” used in a sentence: “A police patrol drove slowly through the neighborhood after dark.”
What part of speech is “patrol”?
Depending on how it is used, “patrol” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “patrol” come from?
The word “patrol” comes from French. From French patrouille, originally meaning "a night-watch" or literally "a tramping about," related to patte, "paw" or "foot.".
Is “patrol” a common word?
“Patrol” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “patrol” have?
“Patrol” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of soldiers, police officers, or guards that moves through an area to watch over it or look for trouble.
What is the difference between patrol and guard?
To patrol is to move regularly through an area in order to watch over it or check for problems, so it involves movement over a route. To guard usually means to stay in one place and protect a specific person, building, or object.
What is the difference between patrol as a noun and as a verb?
As a noun, a patrol is the group of soldiers, police officers, or guards that moves through an area to watch over it. As a verb, to patrol is the act those people perform, moving regularly through the area to guard it or look for trouble.
What are common phrases and collocations with patrol?
Patrol frequently appears in phrases such as on patrol, patrol car, border patrol, and highway patrol. These reflect its core meaning of moving through an area to watch over it and check for problems.
What is the difference between patrol and monitor?
To patrol involves physically moving through an area to guard it and look for trouble. To monitor is broader and often done from a fixed point, watching or checking something over time, which can include using cameras or instruments rather than walking a route.
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