corral

American  

[kuh-ral] / kəˈræl /

noun

1. an enclosure or pen for horses, cattle, etc.

2. a circular enclosure formed by wagons during an encampment, as by covered wagons crossing the North American plains in the 19th century, for defense against attack.

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verb (used with object)

corralled, corralling

1. to confine in or as if in a corral.

2. Informal.

   1. to seize; capture.

   2. to collect, gather, or garner.

      to corral votes.

3. to form (wagons) into a corral.

corral British  

/ kɒˈrɑːl /

noun

1. an enclosure for confining cattle or horses

2. (formerly) a defensive enclosure formed by a ring of covered wagons

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verb

1. to drive into and confine in or as in a corral

2. informal to capture

Etymology

Origin of corral

1575–85; < Spanish < Late Latin *currāle enclosure for carts, equivalent to Latin curr ( us ) wagon, cart (derivative of currere to run) + -āle, neuter of -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

A corral is a pen for horses, cows, or other livestock. If your sheep get out of the corral, you'll have to take the dogs out to help you round them up again. The word corral comes either from the Spanish word corro, which means ring, or from the Old Portuguese word curral, meaning pen or enclosure. As a verb, corral means to gather up or collect. If you're in charge of the big library book sale, you'll have to corral lots of people into helping you. If you make a defensive circle with wagons or other vehicles, you have also corralled the wagons.

Example Sentences

The gated lot has a chicken coop, a horse corral, an organic garden and fruit trees.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, she described how "in many cases" social media companies are "like the wild west and trying to corral it and control it can be incredibly difficult".

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Fundraising for healthcare venture capitalists these days is a slog—but some are overcoming a tough market to corral new investment pools.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

His envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been sent to try to corral the sides into an agreement.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

I looked for the rock pile in the corral, but I could not see it.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

Related Words

• coop up
• lock up