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

In fact, a new top for ushering in more time spent cheering on your favorite team or toasting marshmallows around a bonfire is time and money well spent. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025

Amazon has steep discounts on all kinds of jolly blow-up characters to usher in the season, including a light-up musical snowman that’s 70 percent off with double discounts at Amazon. —Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025

Tyla‘s take on nautical dressing ushered in a new wave on the styling trend, wearing a design by George Trochopoulos for the 2025 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London on Thursday night. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025

Best Gifts for 5-Year-Olds Kids often start kindergarten at age 5, ushering in a new era of learning and socializing. —Anja Webb, Parents, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1