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
Norman Cousins
herded; herding; herds
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
Jonathan Swift1
: 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
Sir Walter Scott
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
Shaun Stanley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
The farmers’ quarrels with vampires make sense, especially in smaller cattle herds, where losing even one cow can significantly hurt a farmer’s livelihood.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 31 Oct. 2024
In one fun set piece, the Warriors are tasked with herding sheep on a ranch as their coaches look on with amusement.
—Jourdain Searles, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for herd 
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Noun
Nile crocodiles sun themselves on the river banks, while pods of hippos and herds of elephants roam through the waters.
—Shaun Stanley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024
The farmers’ quarrels with vampires make sense, especially in smaller cattle herds, where losing even one cow can significantly hurt a farmer’s livelihood.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
At times, the presenters were drowned out by the goading of a sole counter-protestor herded by police officers to the sidewalk along Lincoln Street.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 31 Oct. 2024
In one fun set piece, the Warriors are tasked with herding sheep on a ranch as their coaches look on with amusement.
—Jourdain Searles, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for herd
Articles Related to herd
Dictionary Entries Near herd
Cite this Entry
“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herd. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
herd
1 of 2 noun1
: a number of animals of one kind kept or living together
2
: the common people
herd
2 of 2 verb1
: to assemble or come together into a herd or group
2
: to gather, lead, or drive a herd
herd cattle
herder
noun
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