pat down

verb

Definition of pat downnext
as in to shake down

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pat down Following his arrest, Elijah Lebron was allegedly found with a BB gun that resembled a firearm when he was patted down, Jaques said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2026 Its owner has said that guests were patted down by security, scanned with a metal detector wand and required to walk through a metal detector at the entrance. — Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026 Cover lightly with soil, pat down gently, and water thoroughly. — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026 Angela and several friends watched as Carlos was patted down and searched. — Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pat down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pat down
  1. shake down
  2. run down
  3. find out
  4. rifle
  5. search
  6. rake
  7. review
  8. investigate
Verb
  • If the plaintiffs prevail, local rules could be used to shake down companies for emissions that occur elsewhere.
    — Michael Toth, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of shake down
Verb
  • Blair had tears running down her face, while her team worked to explain what happened.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a marshy creek that runs down the west side of the property, and that creekbottom transitions to a 100-yard-wide stretch of hardwoods that border a hayfield.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of run down
Verb
  • About 2 weeks into shooting everyone, including us, found out Ben Shapiro was involved.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • ChatGPT is not your doctor, although most people are already using it to find out more information about their ailments, hypothetical or otherwise.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of find out
Verb
  • Minutes later, Kryou responded, cutting to the middle before rifling a quick shot past Jakub Dobes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Ramírez smothered the ball under him, picked it up, spun and rifled a strike to Nathaniel Lowe at first base for the final out of the inning, silencing the 40,590 fans at Rate Field.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rifle
Verb
  • The new version, which relies on Google’s Gemini AI technology, is designed to understand what is on a user’s screen and act on it, help with writing, and search a user’s phone for context, among other features.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This is one shape of [a] research project of systematizing and scaling up searching for useful new tools in large databases and DNA sequences.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of search
Verb
  • Beside Perez, multiple current and former Royals players raked against Hendriks.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which raked Hawaii without making landfall in August, producing heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of rake
Verb
  • The National Capital Planning Commission, a federal panel that reviews major construction projects, posted new renderings and accompanying documents provided by the Interior Department, which is overseeing the controversial project.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Look for unfamiliar applications in your Applications folder and review System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions for unexpected items.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of review
Verb
  • Minor cringe is meta-cringe, standing apart from the affect while coolly investigating it.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But using dogs to investigate crimes wasn’t widely adopted until the mid ‘80s, Gould said.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigate

Browse Nearby Words

patchy
pat down
pate
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Cite this Entry

“Pat down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pat%20down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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