reconnoiter

verb

variants or reconnoitre
Definition of reconnoiternext
as in to explore
to go to (a place or area) in order to find out information especially about a military enemy; to do a reconnaissance of (a place) An expedition reconnoitered the coast to find out the exact location of enemy forces.

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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 reconnoiter Some drones drop bombs, some serve as missiles, while others reconnoiter. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 The paddlers quickly pulled off to the right bank, secured the canoes and set up camp, while a scouting party hacked their way through the brush to reconnoiter. — Larry Rohter, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2023 What kind of action plan is visualized to reconnoiter that object? — Leonard David, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Along the way the spacecraft will scrutinize Saturn’s mysterious and spectacular rings and reconnoiter its many satellite worlds, especially Titan — the largest moon in the solar system and, it is believed, the only one with its own atmosphere. — Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020 Beginning in late 2026, Hera will reconnoiter both Dimorphos and Didymos to take measurements of the rocks and show how DART changed the system. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 29 Mar. 2023 How Drones Challenge Snipers Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including fiber optic drones, can reconnoiter vast stretches of territory and can use a wide variety of sensors to perform surveillance. — Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reconnoiter
  1. explore
  2. scout
Verb
  • Many works around the country explored new electronic music technology.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • There's a full rainbow of primal prints to explore, like this flowing calf-print caftan from Moroccan designer Fadila El Gadi.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of explore
Verb
  • Hyo and his fellow producers began by scouting manga artists over social media and commissioning some 200 pieces of concept art imagining the Vapor’s possible forms.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • Firefighters are focused on stopping the fire from moving toward more homes and scouting containment lines to keep the fire in check, Cook said.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026
Definition of scout

Browse Nearby Words

reconnects
reconnoiter
reconnoitered
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Cite this Entry

“Reconnoiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reconnoiter. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reconnoiter

Nglish: Translation of reconnoiter for Spanish Speakers

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