usher

1 of 2

noun

ush·​er ˈə-shər 

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 

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

Synonyms of usher

Verb

• steer
• guide
• accompany
• lead

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

And that’s with or without the innovative staging that caused New York theatergoers to have to use their brains to figure out which way to move as ushers literally directed traffic on a constantly shifting dance floor. —Chris Willman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026

Scott Weber — who turns 60 on Sunday — is working as an usher for the big game. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026

Verb

The muted color palette of sage greens and heather pinks ushers the outside in, reminding guests that there’s as much to explore externally as internally. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026

The op-ed ushered my new identity as a cancer whisperer. —Annabelle Gurwitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Feb. 2026

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing usher

• usher in

Rhymes for usher

• crusher
• gusher

Kids Definition

usher

1 of 2 noun

ush·​er ˈəsh-ər 

: 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 

1

: to lead to a place

2

: to cause to enter : introduce

usher in a new era