Patrol vs Survey

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Patrol

Top 3,000 (common)C1noun

Survey

Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
Most common: Survey
 PatrolSurvey
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/pəˈtrəʊl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈtrəʊl/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɜːveɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɜːrveɪ/"]/
MeaningTo go around a place to keep it safe or check for problems.A way to ask many people questions to get information.
ExampleThe police went on patrol around the neighborhood every night.The survey revealed interesting facts about consumer behavior.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1A2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsroutine, special, armed, carry out, conduct, fly, aircraft, boat, car, on patrol, routine, special, armed, carry out, conduct, fly, aircraft, boat, car, on patrolcomprehensive, detailed, extensive, administer, carry out, conduct, cover something, deal with something, examine something, data, results, method, according to a/​the survey, in a/​the survey, survey into, the findings of a/​the survey, the results of a/​the survey, full, aerial, archaeological, carry out, do, make, full, aerial, archaeological, carry out, do, make, comprehensive, detailed, extensive, administer, carry out, conduct, cover something, deal with something, examine something, data, results, method, according to a/​the survey, in a/​the survey, survey into, the findings of a/​the survey, the results of a/​the survey
Antonymsignore, neglectignore, neglect
Common mistakesConfused with 'patrolling' as a noun instead of a verb., Incorrectly using 'patrol' as a subject., Mixing up 'patrol' with 'patrols' when describing multiple teams.Confused with 'serve' due to similar spelling., Using 'surveys' as a verb instead of a noun., Mixing up the meaning with 'sightseeing.'
Usage notesUsed when discussing security or monitoring. Typically appropriate in formal contexts like law enforcement, but can be used informally when talking about military or neighborhood watch activities.Used in both academic and business contexts, often appropriate for data collection. Avoid in casual conversations.

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Patrol

Frequently asked questions: Patrol vs Survey

What's the difference between Patrol and Survey?

Patrol: To go around a place to keep it safe or check for problems. Survey: A way to ask many people questions to get information.

Which is more common: Patrol and Survey?

Survey is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Patrol and Survey?

Patrol is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Patrol and Survey the same CEFR level?

Patrol: C1, Survey: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Patrol and Survey?

Patrol: noun, Survey: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Patrol: The police went on patrol around the neighborhood every night. Survey: The survey revealed interesting facts about consumer behavior.

Can I use Patrol and Survey interchangeably?

Not always. Patrol and Survey are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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