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

Verb

• conduct
• direct
• guide
• lead
• marshal
• marshall
• pilot
• route
• show
• steer

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

Many are administering the sign of the cross or snapping photos on their cell phones, as ushers urge them to keep moving to accommodate the thousands who flocked to the Rome basilica to see the tomb, forming a long line outside. —Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

An usher came to help me, and I was eventually taken to the lobby, where staff gave me ice and advised me to seek medical attention. —Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025

Verb

Eventually, the president approached Oz's family as Philomena was ushered away. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Introduced through mosquitoes that first reached the island in the 1800s, climate change has now ushered these deadly vessels of destruction into the bird’s last stronghold. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

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

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