herd

1 of 2

noun

ˈhərd 

1

a

: a typically large group of animals of one kind kept together under human control

a herd of cattle

b

: a congregation of gregarious wild animals

herds of antelopes

2

a(1)

: a group of people usually having a common bond

a herd of tourists

(2)

: a large assemblage of like things

herds of cars

b

: the undistinguished masses : crowd

isolate the individual prophets from the herd

—Norman Cousins

herdlike

ˈhərd-ˌlīk 

adjective

herd

2 of 2

verb

herded; herding; herds

transitive verb

1

a

: to gather, lead, or drive as if in a herd (see herd entry 1 sense 1a)

herded the children into the car

b

: to keep or move (animals) together

dogs that are trained to herd sheep

2

: to place in a group

herd us with their kindred fools

—Jonathan Swift

intransitive verb

1

: to assemble or move in a herd (see herd entry 1)

herding onto the subway

2

: to place oneself in a group : associate

it is desirable that young noblemen should herd

—Sir Walter Scott

Synonyms

Noun

• drove
• flock

Verb

• drive
• punch
• run

Examples of herd in a Sentence

Noun

The herd grazed peacefully in the pasture.

A herd of shoppers waited anxiously for the store to open.

Verb

The horses were herded into the corral.

We left the hotel and were herded onto a bus.

They herded the students into the auditorium.

The commuters herded onto the train.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Outside of moving animals across state lines, testing of herds is voluntary, as is testing of anyone who’s been in close contact with infected or potentially infected animals. —Megan Molteni, STAT, 12 June 2024

Besides herds of the animals on public lands or overseen by conservation groups, about 80 tribes across the U.S. have more than 20,000 bison, a figure that's been growing in recent years. —CBS News, 12 June 2024

Verb

Adult males continue herding behavior even during those other activities, for as long as several weeks. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2024

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center said crews attempted to herd the creature out of the small body of water a few days later, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English heord; akin to Old High German herta herd, Middle Welsh cordd troop, Lithuanian kerdžius shepherd

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing herd

• follow the herd
• herd immunity
• herd mentality
• ride herd on
• the herd

Kids Definition

herd

1 of 2 noun

ˈhərd 

1

: a number of animals of one kind kept or living together

2

: the common people

herd

2 of 2 verb

1

: to assemble or come together into a herd or group

2

: to gather, lead, or drive a herd

herd cattle

herder noun