usher in

verb

ushered in; ushering in; ushers in

transitive verb

1

: to serve to bring into being

a discovery that ushered in a period of change

2

: to mark or observe the beginning of

ushered in the new year with merrymaking

Choose the Right Synonym for usher in

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation.

begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable.

begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

begin a trip

began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing

commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Examples of usher in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If all goes according to plan, Qantas is poised to usher in a new era of global connectivity. —Jake McGowan, CNN Money, 19 June 2026

July 1 ushers in a host of big new changes to the federal student aid world, including the introduction of two new repayment plans and controversial new caps on graduate student loans. —Cory Turner, NPR, 18 June 2026

Along with ByHeart and Nara, the past few years have ushered in competitors like Bobbie, the European brand Kendamil, and most recently, Little Spoon — all geared toward upscale, health-conscious parents, the type likely to frequent farmers markets and scrutinize ingredient lists on food packaging. —Sarah Todd, STAT, 18 June 2026

The end of mandatory minicamp ushers in the quietest time on the NFL calendar. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1