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

This winter has been different because a strain of the bird flu virus has spilled over into dairy herds too, leading to hundreds of infected herds. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2025

Officials could have immediately halted cow transport, and organized a careful and concerted cull of infected herds. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025

Verb

The family's in their east camp ranch, happily attempting to herd the 300 cows Kayce just secured at the auction. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Boise, Idaho, was named on NatGeo’s list for its population of Basque people – the highest in the U.S. The Basques descended from Spanish and French migrants in the late 19th century, and came to the region to herd sheep. —Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 27 Oct. 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