Meaning & use
herd
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Meanings
nouncountable
A large group of animals of the same kind that live, feed, or travel together.
Grammar: Countable: a herd, two herds, the herd.
Patterns
- a herd of + plural noun
- herds of + plural noun
A herd of elephants crossed the river.
The farmer keeps a herd of dairy cattle.
Wildebeest herds migrate across the plain every year.
nouncountabledisapproving
A large group of people who behave or think in the same way, often without independent thought.
Grammar: Usually singular with 'the', often disapproving.
Patterns
- the herd
- follow the herd
She refused to follow the herd and bought a small electric car.
Teenagers often feel pressure to stay with the herd.
verbtransitive
To make animals or people move together as a group, often by guiding or forcing them.
Grammar: Takes an object: herd the sheep. Often used with a direction: herd them into a pen.
Patterns
- herd something into something
- herd something together
The dog herded the sheep into the pen.
Staff herded the visitors through the narrow gate.
verbtransitive
To keep animals as a herd; to tend grazing animals.
Grammar: Takes an object: herd cattle. Common in rural contexts.
Patterns
- herd cattle
- herd sheep
He herds cattle on the family ranch.
They have herded reindeer for generations.
Word forms
| plural | herds |
|---|---|
| third person singular | herds |
| past tense | herded |
| past participle | herded |
| -ing form | herding |
Common combinations
- a herd of cattle
- A herd of cattle blocked the road.
- follow the herd
- Don't just follow the herd; think for yourself.
- herd instinct
- The herd instinct makes people buy what everyone else buys.
- herd immunity
- Vaccination helps build herd immunity.
- herd animals
- Zebras are herd animals and stay together for safety.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- herder noun
- A person who takes care of a herd of animals.
- herding noun
- The activity of guiding animals or people as a group.
Commonly confused: herd or heard?
herd vs heard
Heard is the past tense of hear; herd is a group of animals. They sound the same.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'herd' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The verb 'herd' means to guide animals as a group, so 'herded the sheep' is correct. 'Herd of birds' is wrong because birds form a flock; 'herd' in option 3 is a spelling mistake for 'heard'; and wolves form a pack, not a herd.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “herd”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.