herd

¹ American  

[hurd] / hɜrd /

noun

1. a number of animals kept, feeding, or traveling together; drove; flock.

   a herd of cattle;

   a herd of sheep;

   a herd of zebras.

2. Sometimes Disparaging. a large group of people.

   The star was mobbed by a herd of autograph seekers.

   Synonyms:

   mob, crowd

3. any large quantity.

   a herd of bicycles.

4. the herd, the common people; the masses; the rabble.

   He had no opinions of his own, but simply followed the herd.

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verb (used without object)

1. to unite or go in a herd; assemble or associate as a herd.

idioms

1. ride herd on, to have charge or control of; maintain discipline over.

   He rode herd on 40 students in each class.

herd ² American  

[hurd] / hɜrd /

noun

1. a person in charge of a herd (usually used in combination).

   a cowherd;

   a goatherd;

   a shepherd.

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verb (used with object)

1. to tend, drive, or lead (cattle, sheep, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   watch, protect, guard

2. to conduct or drive (a group of people) to a destination.

   The teacher herded the children into the classroom.

herd ¹ British  

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. 1. archaic a man or boy who tends livestock; herdsman

   2. ( in combination )

      goatherd

      swineherd

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verb

1. to drive forwards in a large group

2. to look after (livestock)

herd ² British  

/ hɜːd /

noun

1. a large group of mammals living and feeding together, esp a group of cattle, sheep, etc

2. derogatory a large group of people

3. derogatory the large mass of ordinary people

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verb

1. to collect or be collected into or as if into a herd

herd More Idioms  

1. see ride herd on.

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Grammar

See collective noun.

Related Words

See flock ¹.

Etymology

Origin of herd¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English heord; cognate with Gothic hairda, German Herde

Origin of herd²

First recorded before 900; Middle English herd(e), hirde, Old English hierde, hirde, hyrde; cognate with Gothic hairdeis, German Hirt(e); derivative of herd ¹

Explanation

A herd is a bunch of animals — or people who act like a bunch of animals. It's also a verb — when people herd animals, they try to keep them moving in the same direction. A herd usually refers to a group of animals with hooves, like cows or sheep (meat-eating animals like wolves cruise around in packs). On a farm, sheepdogs are in charge of herding the herd of sheep. Herds of buffalo roam the plains. It's rarely a good thing when people act like a herd, which is to do what everyone else is doing. You might want "to break away from the herd" if everyone is wearing pinwheel hats, for example. If you're having trouble getting people together, you might say it's like "herding cats." Cats never follow directions.

Example Sentences

In the U.S., a combination of persistent drought and high costs in 2022 forced producers to kill 13.3% of the national beef cow herd, the highest proportion ever.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

A herd of highland cows has been removed from a nature reserve after warnings to visitors drawn in by a social media-driven surge in interest were ignored, a wildlife trust has said.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

According to an online FAQ, that decision stemmed from the death of two older herd members — Jewel and Shaunzi — who were euthanized in 2023 and 2024, respectively, for age-related health reasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Israeli dairy and fruit farmer Tommy Kurlender refused to abandon his herd during the last war with Hezbollah, and vowed he would again stay put this time around.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

I started tracking them, and pretty soon I found the herd.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola

Related Words

• brood
• flock
• horde
• mob
• swarm
• throng