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

In the United States, the virus has spread to about 1,000 dairy herds in 16 states and infected at least 69 people. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

The surveillance strategy led to the recent identification of a second spillover event of H5N1 bird flu from wild birds to cows, which has spread to several herds in Nevada and at least one dairy worker. —Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025

Verb

During the rut, bucks are more active and try to herd does into their territory. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025

The trouble is, for the penguins at least, the arid conditions of coastal Patagonia in Argentina aren’t very good for sheep herding in the long run. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for herd

• blurred
• burd
• curd
• curred
• furred
• gerd
• gird
• kurd
• nerd
• purred
• sherd
• slurred

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