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

The situation didn’t improve upon arrival at the theater, with the ushers’ ticket readers broken and unable to scan people in. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

The first is in church when the ushers greet your row with the offering basket that’s passed from one parishioner to the next. — Dale Bannon, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Verb

Like so many others, Durant believes that collection of American stars ushered the game into a new era. — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Soon enough, staff began ushering and, with increasing urgency, encouraging everyone to take their seats in the adjoining show space. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 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