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 WebAmarachi Orie, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
An avian flu infection spreading across cattle herds in Texas has jumped to humans and chickens.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Holthaus spent nearly a decade breeding his herd with a focus on A2.
—Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
Habitat fragmentation prevents animals from traversing freely, threatening herds’ ability to reproduce and survive.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
That will give scientists more insight into herd health, body conditions, disease and parasites.
—Scott Sonner, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024
Trump's popularity in southern Ohio meant most of the candidates sang the praises of Trump and worked to distinguish themselves among a herd of Trump-loving candidates.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Some 300 or so clubs are now part of these models, inspired by the likes of City Football Group and the Red Bull herd.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said while elephants have been around for most of the zoo's history, the understanding of the species' social structure — often in herds led by a matriarch — has developed dramatically in recent years.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024
Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The officers use their horses to repeatedly herd the man back to the sidewalk.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
But the numbers from the historic Feb. 3 Democratic primary show there is a significant number of voters available for Haley to herd into her corner.
—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Creating a Super Bowl ad is often like trying to herd cats.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024
The animals were docile and easy to herd, probably because they were trained, Glass said.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Jan. 2024
But Glass herds the tone toward comedy, teasing us to admit that Lou and Jackie’s predicament is funny.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
The living conditions in Rafah where 1.4 million internal refugees are herded and trapped are unthinkable.
—Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024
Captured by brigands, the immigrants are herded into a remote Libyan prison camp where they are tormented and tortured.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
Noun
And amid a coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, residents of Llandudno in Wales spotted herds of goats roaming the streets, after more than a dozen of the animals ventured down from the hill above the town.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
An avian flu infection spreading across cattle herds in Texas has jumped to humans and chickens.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Holthaus spent nearly a decade breeding his herd with a focus on A2.
—Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
Habitat fragmentation prevents animals from traversing freely, threatening herds’ ability to reproduce and survive.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
That will give scientists more insight into herd health, body conditions, disease and parasites.
—Scott Sonner, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024
Trump's popularity in southern Ohio meant most of the candidates sang the praises of Trump and worked to distinguish themselves among a herd of Trump-loving candidates.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Some 300 or so clubs are now part of these models, inspired by the likes of City Football Group and the Red Bull herd.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney said while elephants have been around for most of the zoo's history, the understanding of the species' social structure — often in herds led by a matriarch — has developed dramatically in recent years.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Advertisement Many people, including you, have made similar statements as Hollywood has struggled to herd people back to the cineplex and navigate the splintered industry once known as television.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The officers use their horses to repeatedly herd the man back to the sidewalk.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
But the numbers from the historic Feb. 3 Democratic primary show there is a significant number of voters available for Haley to herd into her corner.
—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Creating a Super Bowl ad is often like trying to herd cats.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024
The animals were docile and easy to herd, probably because they were trained, Glass said.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Jan. 2024
But Glass herds the tone toward comedy, teasing us to admit that Lou and Jackie’s predicament is funny.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
The living conditions in Rafah where 1.4 million internal refugees are herded and trapped are unthinkable.
—Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024
Captured by brigands, the immigrants are herded into a remote Libyan prison camp where they are tormented and tortured.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herd.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herd. Accessed 19 Apr. 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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