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

The episode ushered in more than a half century of relative prosperity. —The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

In 2026, fashion’s equine fixation will take center stage, as China ushers in the Year of the Horse. —Gemma A Williams, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026

The New Yorker investigates a 2005 case that ushered in a new branch of pediatrics and finds the evidence doesn’t add up. —Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026

With the Artemis 2 mission set to launch (hopefully) any day now, there's never been a better time to celebrate the rocket that will usher in NASA's triumphant return to the moon. —Ian Stokes, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1