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
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
With the addition of the Utah herds, which have not been added to the USDA tally, that makes 401 herds across 15 states.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for herd 
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Noun
This conflict is further exacerbated by climate change, which is shifting elephant habitats and bringing human communities and elephant herds into close contact.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
With the addition of the Utah herds, which have not been added to the USDA tally, that makes 401 herds across 15 states.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
Thankfully, Lena flashed her smartwatch at the CCTV camera as Kael was herding out of the hotel with a gun to her back, and the team’s able to track it to where she’s being held.
—EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for herd
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Dictionary Entries Near herd
Cite this Entry
“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herd. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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