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

Halls lead to escalators, more gray corridors, and ushers who shout instructions. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026

Everything would cost more, from the care and feeding of the players to security, police, ushers, and concessions workers. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Verb

The gunman was standing on the same spot where, 20 seconds earlier, Burton had stood, ushering visitors to safety, Tarbet told the Statesman. — Mark Dee august 14, Idaho Statesman, 14 Aug. 2026

Adding two more championships in 2023 and ’24, Moore was tasked again with ushering the Huskies into a new era and laying the groundwork for what the job description of a general manager at UConn should look like. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 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