shepherd

1 of 2

noun

shep·​herd ˈshe-pərd 

1

: a person who tends sheep

2

: pastor

3

: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2

verb

shepherded; shepherding; shepherds

transitive verb

1

: to tend as a shepherd

2

: to guide or guard in the manner of a shepherd

shepherded the bill through Congress

Synonyms of shepherd

Verb

• guide
• coach
• mentor

Examples of shepherd in a Sentence

Verb

She carefully shepherded the children across the street.

They shepherded the bill through Congress.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Winter Annual Weeds Henbit, chickweed, and shepherd’s purse are common winter annual weeds. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026

Garvin’s dog, Cooper, an Australian shepherd, is a kind of mascot for the store. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

Spring training drills under Mike Shildt were must-watch for their intensity, and attention to detail became a way of life under the only manager in franchise history to shepherd the Padres to consecutive 90-win seasons. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026

The box office flop, which follows an 11-year-old underdog who forms unlikely bonds with extraterrestrials, was later shepherded by directors Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sheepherde, from Old English scēaphyrde, from scēap sheep + hierde herdsman; akin to Old English heord herd

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1822, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing shepherd

• Anatolian shepherd
• Australian shepherd
• English shepherd
• German shepherd
• shepherd dog
• shepherd's check
• shepherd's pie
• shepherd's purse

Rhymes for shepherd

• leopard
• peppered

Kids Definition

shepherd

1 of 2 noun

shep·​herd ˈshep-ərd 

1

: a person who takes care of sheep

2

: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2 verb

: to care for as or as if a shepherd