shepherd

1 of 2

noun

shep·​herd ˈshe-pərd How to pronounce shepherd (audio)
Synonyms of shepherdnext
1
: a person who tends sheep
2
: pastor
3
: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2

verb

shepherded; shepherding; shepherds

transitive verb

1
: to tend as a shepherd
2
: to guide or guard in the manner of a shepherd
shepherded the bill through Congress

Synonyms of shepherd

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Verb

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Examples of shepherd in a Sentence

Verb She carefully shepherded the children across the street. They shepherded the bill through Congress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Almost 50 homes and other structures have been destroyed so far; there have been several injuries, and one of Tibbetts’s neighbors lost 20 German shepherds. — Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026 Enrique Pomares said he and his family are devastated by the death of Kygo, their 8-year-old Dutch shepherd. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Upon their arrival in Thailand, Jax and Luce find a guide named John (Tom Brittney) who agrees to shepherd them around the Devil’s Elbow, despite inclement weather that makes the journey even more dangerous. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 The re-opening represents a fourth generation being shepherded in by the third generation, faith in the future of Hartford, and as fourth-generation owner Nicole Carbone said, should help in getting more people downtown. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shepherd

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sheepherde, from Old English scēaphyrde, from scēap sheep + hierde herdsman; akin to Old English heord herd

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1822, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of shepherd was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing shepherd

Rhymes for shepherd

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Browse Nearby Words

Shepard
shepherd
shepherd's bag
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shepherd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shepherd. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shepherd

1 of 2 noun
shep·​herd ˈshep-ərd How to pronounce shepherd (audio)
1
: a person who takes care of sheep
2
: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2 verb
: to care for as or as if a shepherd

More from Merriam-Webster on shepherd

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shepherd

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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