# herd

/ˈhɝd/ (US) · /hˈɜːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/herd
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a group of animals

noun · CEFR B1

a large group of animals of the same type that live and move together.

For teachers: a large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals, that live, feed, or migrate together.

- A large herd of cows was grazing peacefully in the green field.
- The vast herd of wildebeest began its annual migration across the plains, attracting predators from miles away.

### 2. a crowd of people

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a large group of people, often used when you think they are all acting the same way without thinking.

For teachers: a large group of people, typically used pejoratively to imply a lack of individual thought or a tendency to follow others blindly.

- I didn't want to follow the herd, so I decided to start my own business.
- The marketing campaign was designed to appeal to the herd mentality of consumers who feel the need to own the latest gadgets.

### 3. to move a group

verb · CEFR B2

to make a group of people or animals move together in a certain direction.

For teachers: to gather and move a group of animals or people in a specific direction, often with some difficulty.

- The teachers tried to herd the excited children into the school bus.
- Security guards worked quickly to herd the protesters away from the main entrance before the delegates arrived.

Usage: Often used with prepositions like 'into' or 'towards'.

## Examples

- A large herd of cows blocked the road.
- The rancher moved the entire herd to the northern pasture where the grass was greener and more plentiful.
- Sociologists often study how individuals within a crowd begin to exhibit herd behavior, losing their sense of personal responsibility as they mirror the actions of those around them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.