usher

1 of 2

noun

ush·​er ˈə-shər How to pronounce usher (audio)
1
a
: an officer or servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, or chamber
b
: an officer who walks before a person of rank
c
: one who escorts persons to their seats (as in a theater)
2
archaic : an assistant teacher

usher

2 of 2

verb

ushered; ushering ˈə-sh(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce usher (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to conduct to a place
2
: to precede as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger
3
: to cause to enter : introduce
a new theory ushered into the world

intransitive verb

: to serve as an usher
usher at a wedding

Examples of usher in a Sentence

Verb He ushered them to their seats. A nurse ushered us into the hospital room.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
More than once, an usher reprimanded a show-goer for filming the stage with their iPhone. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 Musk’s announcement could mark an important milestone for Neuralink’s efforts to usher potentially life-transforming technology out of the lab and into the real world. Diksha Madhok, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024 The union is attempting to represent a broad swath of roles — including ushers, cooks, bartenders, janitors and others — at the sprawling, 19-theater location, situated on the same campus as the Universal Studios theme park. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024 Early success in the first human trial of the brain chip technology could mark an important milestone for Neuralink’s efforts to usher potentially life-transforming technology — especially for people unable to move or communicate — out of the lab and into the real world. Clare Duffy, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 But unlike the 1950s or even the 1980s, when state policies swooped in to help usher the Mo i Rana economy into a new era, some fear that this time, Norway’s national government may not come through. Ana Swanson Thomas Ekström, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Rudy Gobert surprised Target Center ushers and arena workers with a holiday present again this season. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2024 Having closed up shop 40 years ago, the gallery may be staging a return to Manhattan, and Hayden-Guest and a group of other artist friends came to Miami to help usher it back into the world. Ian Volner, Curbed, 8 Dec. 2023 The football Hall of Famer, who was acquitted of murder in 1995, even served as an usher during Kardashian’s 1978 wedding to Jenner (née Kris Houghton). Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2023
Verb
While celebrities and studio heads mixed and mingled in the line to get their photo taken on the iconic red, black and gold carpet, a PR rep for the party quickly ushered me inside. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 When your time finally came, you were ushered forward by the deputy head boy. Erin Hill, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is now accepting applications for its dynamic ushering corps and will offer a two-hour orientation at 6 p.m., March 13. Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024 First, its tech sector peers ushered one artificial intelligence innovation after another into the market, even as Apple offered nothing of its own. Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 2 Mar. 2024 Still, there was understandable skepticism about whether the trial would be a flash in the pan that led to companies slowly ushering their staffers back into a five-day week once the pageantry ended. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Feb. 2024 Bennett was accompanied by a guard who took her to a waiting room and then ushered her into the execution chamber. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024 As performances concluded, guests were ushered to the reception area, where they were greeted by white peonies and cherry blossoms adorning tabletops. Maia Torres, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 Students and players were ushered out of the gym to return home. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usher.' 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 ussher, from Anglo-French ussier, usscher, from Vulgar Latin *ustiarius doorkeeper, from Latin ostium, ustium door, mouth of a river — more at ostium

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usher was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near usher

Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

usher

1 of 2 noun
ush·​er ˈəsh-ər How to pronounce usher (audio)
: a person who leads other persons to seats (as in a theater or at a wedding)

usher

2 of 2 verb
ushered; ushering ˈəsh-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce usher (audio)
1
: to lead to a place
2
: to cause to enter : introduce
usher in a new era

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