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

But now many of those same factions are expressing open revulsion at the Iran war, rupturing relationships that were supposed to usher in a new international order. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

Behold the Great Conqueror, ushering in an era of prosperity when petty doomsday-minded advisers would stand in his way! —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

Zoom ushered in the remote era—cutting commutes, reshaping office culture, and giving millions of workers more control over their schedules. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

Get a jumpstart on ushering in spring with our favorite pieces below, starting at $13. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1