herding
herding — verb
- herdingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- herdings3rd person singular
- herdinging-ing form
- herdingedpast simple
1. to gather and direct animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats so that they stay t
to gather and direct animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats so that they stay together and move where you want them to go
The farmer's dog helps her herd the sheep from the field into the barn.
herd + object + from + into
Liam herded the cattle across the wide valley toward the summer grazing land.
herd + object + across + toward
In Mongolia, Wei watched the local men herd yaks across the open grassland.
The old shepherd used two dogs to herd the goats down the rocky hillside.
Clara learned to herd horses when she was just twelve years old on the ranch.
- scatter
to send animals in different directions, the opposite of gathering them together
文法句型
herd + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, dog, or horse. The object is almost always livestock — sheep, cattle, goats, yaks, or reindeer. Not used for pets or wild animals that move on their own.
常見錯誤
2. to force or guide a group of people to move somewhere together, especially when
to force or guide a group of people to move somewhere together, especially when they do not want to go that way or when space is limited
The security guards herded the waiting crowd into three roped-off lines outside the arena.
passive implied: be herded into [lines]
Teachers herded the children through the narrow museum corridor past the old statues.
herd + object + through
Airport workers herded sleepy passengers from the waiting lounge onto the shuttle bus.
Police herded the protesters away from the main street and into a quiet side road.
Nora felt upset when staff herded the tour group through the temple without a pause.
- release
to let people go free, the opposite of gathering them together
文法句型
herd + object + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often carries a negative tone — the people being moved have little or no choice. The subject is usually an authority figure (guard, police officer, teacher, staff member). Frequently used in descriptions of evacuations, security procedures, or crowded tourist sites.
常見錯誤
3. of people or animals, to move together as a group or gather in one place, withou
of people or animals, to move together as a group or gather in one place, without being forced by someone else
After the concert, fans herded toward the main exit, all trying to leave at once.
herd toward [direction]
The tourists herded around the guide near the entrance, holding up their phones.
herd around [person/place]
During the storm, the sheep herded together under the old oak tree for protection.
The children herded into the warm kitchen when their mother called them for dinner.
Passengers herded onto the crowded platform, pushing past each other to reach the train.
- spread out
to move apart in different directions, the opposite of coming together
文法句型
herd + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Intransitive — the subject moves on its own. Unlike sense 2 (MOVE PEOPLE), no outside force is pushing them. The adverb or preposition of direction is essential to the meaning.
常見錯誤
herding — noun
1. the work or activity of gathering, keeping, and moving animals such as cattle, s
the work or activity of gathering, keeping, and moving animals such as cattle, sheep, or goats as a group
Sheep herding keeps the animals safe from wolves and stops them from getting lost.
modifier + herding: sheep herding
The ranch hired extra workers for the summer cattle herding season.
Reindeer herding has been the main way of life for the Sami people for centuries.
Modern herding uses motorcycles and small drones alongside traditional dogs and horses.
The documentary showed goat herding in the high mountains of Nepal during the autumn months.
- animal husbandry
more formal and broader in scope; includes breeding and care, not just moving animals
- pastoralism
academic term for a lifestyle built around moving livestock between grazing areas
文法句型
modifier + herding
用法筆記
Describes the occupation or skill, not the group of animals. Usually appears with a modifier specifying the animal type (cattle herding, sheep herding, reindeer herding).
常見錯誤
2. the activity of moving or guiding a group of people as a single mass, especially
the activity of moving or guiding a group of people as a single mass, especially in a controlled or forceful way
Efficient crowd herding at music festivals requires careful planning to keep everyone safe.
modifier + herding: crowd herding
The guide's constant herding of tourists through the narrow streets felt rushed.
Airport staff receive training in passenger herding during the busy holiday travel season.
The emergency plan relied on the calm herding of residents toward the underground shelter buildings.
Avoiding rough herding of visitors helps make the museum tour more pleasant for everyone.
- crowd control
more formal and broader; can include security measures beyond just moving people
- ushering
more polite and less forceful than 'herding'
文法句型
modifier + herding
用法筆記
Often describes necessary but uncomfortable situations where large numbers of people must be directed through limited spaces. Common in discussions of tourism, crowd safety, and event management.
常見錯誤
3. a tendency for people or organizations to follow the actions or opinions of a la
a tendency for people or organizations to follow the actions or opinions of a larger group, especially without independent thought
Stock market herding happens when investors buy shares simply because everyone else is buying them.
modifier + herding: stock market herding
Social media herding causes people to repeat popular opinions without thinking for themselves.
modifier + herding: social media herding
The psychologist studied herding behavior in crowds during emergency evacuation drills.
Financial experts warn against herding when making decisions about where to invest your savings.
Herding in online shopping means everyone rushes to buy the same product at once.
- herd mentality
more common in everyday language; describes the psychological state rather than the pattern of actions
- groupthink
more specifically about decision-making in small groups, often in organizations
- conformity
broader term for adjusting behavior to match a group, not limited to following the crowd
- independent thinking
making decisions based on personal analysis rather than following the group
文法句型
modifier + herding
用法筆記
Common in psychology, finance, and sociology to describe collective behavior without individual decision-making. When used in finance it often refers to 'herding behavior' or 'herding bias'.