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

His work may well usher in an unprecedented era of green and clean prosperity, and of course new jobs. —Richard Branson, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

The month of May ushers in two glorious events: The unofficial start of summer and amazing Memorial Day sales. —Malia Griggs, SELF, 15 Apr. 2024

As a child of parents who were born and raised in Trinidad, the island of this musical genre’s birth, its enchanting rhythms have turned my frowns into smiles, strengthened ties with loved ones, and ushered in some of the most joyous family celebrations. —Melissa Rose Cooper, Essence, 15 Apr. 2024

Formerly Danna Paola, the Mexican actress and pop star dropped her last name to usher in a new creative era. —Lucas Villa, Allure, 12 Apr. 2024

While there are still a few months until the official start of summer, Target’s exclusive Hearth & Hand with Magnolia collection is making a case for ushering in the season a little early. —Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

El Niño arrived in June and ushered in a sweltering summer and fall marked by deadly heat, raging wildfires and boiling ocean temperatures. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Nail designs to usher in the sunshine mood and put a smile on your face. —Georgia Day, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024

Every year, the rainy season ushers in springtime, which is a welcome arrival. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1