shepherd

1 of 2

noun

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

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

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
Noun
Classic Shepherd’s Pie A comforting, filling staple of the Irish table, this classic shepherd’s pie features ground lamb, potatoes and a cheesy topping. Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Commander, President Joe Biden's German shepherd, was recently removed from the White House for repeatedly biting secret service agents. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024 Marcelo Claure’s resume is jam-packed with successes: founding a multinational mobile phone distributor, pulling off the complex merger of Sprint and T-Mobile and helping shepherd the fairytale run of Spanish soccer club Girona, to name a few. Devon Pendleton, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Their exodus was prompted by a relatively new type of settler—the Orthodox Jewish shepherd. Shane Bauer, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 The German shepherd joined the family as a puppy in December 2021 and was removed from the White House in October 2023. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024 Arts & Culture Lincoln Center leader leaving: Henry Timms, who guided the center through the turmoil of the pandemic and helped shepherd through the $550 million renovation of David Geffen Hall, will step down as its president and chief executive. James Barron, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 The 4-year-old Dutch shepherd named Sledge was immediately taken to an animal hospital and ultimately survived the injuries, police said. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024 But the video didn’t show another pet at the shelter with a closer tie to Gonsolin’s team: a 5-year-old German shepherd named Doddie the Dodger Dog. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024
Verb
Medvedev also shepherded the first major amendments to Russia's constitution — among them, one that changed the length of presidential terms from four to six years, effective in 2012. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 One open position is Head of the International AI Safety Report, who would help shepherd a landmark global report that stems from the UK’s global AI Safety Summit last year. Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 But the decision to spearhead and shepherd this movement with Africa Creative Agency – which included they Gayle family relocating the South Africa with their children - was not an easy one. Tenille Clarke, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Torian shepherded a version of the budget that included language creating a sports and entertainment authority to oversee the construction and financing of the arena. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 And Jimmy Kimmel is a really good host, a veteran at this point who shepherded the show through its biggest embarrassment — well, maybe second-biggest — yet still feels somehow underrated. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Fiechter managed the company with a dominating presence and shepherded it through difficult eras, including the Great Depression and World War II, with innovative sales methods. Rachel Felder, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 In 2021, Ruiz shepherded the creation of Nueva Epoca, a leadership program designed to foster local Latino leaders into executive positions. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 Steel was right — Obst learned by watching Hill expertly manage productions, thanks to time spent shepherding early installments of the Halloween franchise, The Fog, Escape From New York and Clue. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shepherd.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near shepherd

Cite this Entry

“Shepherd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shepherd. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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

shepherd

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

More from Merriam-Webster on shepherd

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