herd
verb
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 ScottExamples of herd in a Sentence
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
One partner holds his end of the seine on shore while the other partner wades through the shallows holding the other, sweeping the seine in a wide arc to herd minnows toward the bank.
—Chad Mason, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026
In 1937, Stalin, himself a former dabbler in the language, reversed course on Esperanto and herded its speakers into gulags on account of its internationalist appeal.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The undulating landscape lends itself to scenic horseback riding with outfits like Na’alapa Stables, which carries on the tradition of the paniolo cowboys who have herded cattle in the grassy highlands since the late 1800s.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
The border collie not only knows how to herd sheep, but also which sheep to herd with patience and which sheep need a bit more sharpness.
—Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for herd
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Chad Mason, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026
In 1937, Stalin, himself a former dabbler in the language, reversed course on Esperanto and herded its speakers into gulags on account of its internationalist appeal.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
The undulating landscape lends itself to scenic horseback riding with outfits like Na’alapa Stables, which carries on the tradition of the paniolo cowboys who have herded cattle in the grassy highlands since the late 1800s.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
The border collie not only knows how to herd sheep, but also which sheep to herd with patience and which sheep need a bit more sharpness.
—Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for herd
Cite this Entry
“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herd. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
herd
1 of 2 noun
1
: 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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