HerdA large group of animals living, moving, or grazing together. is usually a noun for a group of animals, especially cattleCows and bulls kept by people for milk, meat, or labor. or other mammals that stay together. It can also be a verb meaning to move animals or people together, or to forceMake someone or something do something by strong pressure or power. a group into one place.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /hɝd/
Easy pronunciation: HERD (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the only syllable: HERD.
Use this pronunciation for the noun meaning a group of animals together.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Herd Meaning
a group of animals together
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a group of cattle, sheep, or other animals of the same kind that live, move, or are kept together
Example: A herd of deer crossed the road at dusk.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Herd
Meaning 2
a group of wild animals together
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a group of wild mammals of one species that stay together
Example: We watched a herd of elephants near the river.
Meaning 3
a crowd of people or things
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a crowd, especially of ordinary or undistinguished people or things
Example: The city street was full of a noisy herd of tourists.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ruck — Can mean an undistinguished crowd or mass, but it is less common and more specialized than herd.
Meaning 4
to move animals as a group
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to drive, move, or keep animals together
Example: The rancher herded the cattle into the pen.
Meaning 5
to push a group into one place
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to crowd people or things together or force them into a place
Example: The staff herded the children into the gym.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crowd — Works in the sense of moving or pushing people into a group, but it is broader and not always as exact as herding.
Meaning 6
to move as a group
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to move together like a herd
Example: The players herded toward the exit after the game.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Herd Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- flock
- pack
- group
- school
- swarm
A crowd of ordinary or undistinguished people or things
- ruck
To drive, move, or crowd people together
- crowd
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse herd with horde, which means a large crowd but is not the same word.
- Herd can be a noun or a verb, so check the sentence before choosing a synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does herd mean in simple English?
As a noun, herd usually means a group of animals kept or moving together. As a verb, it means to move animals or people together.
What is the most common meaning of herd?
The most common everyday meaning is a group of animals, especially cattle or other mammals, that stay together.
What are some synonyms for herd?
For the animal noun sense, strong nearby words include flock, pack, group, school, and swarm, but they fit different kinds of animals. For other senses, ruck and crowd may work in limited cases.
Is herd always about animals?
No. Herd can also mean to move people or things together, or to describe a crowd.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
