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

Verb

• steer
• guide
• lead
• accompany

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

On a sweltering morning at Wrigley Field, hours before the Chicago Cubs’ 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the daily pregame meeting of ushers and security guards was interrupted by a guest speaker who needed no introduction. —Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025

The center oversees guest services (such as ticket takers, ambassadors and ushers), security, medical and fire prevention. —Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2025

Verb

That film also saw the president's plane hijacked by dirty rotten commies (Gary Oldman this time instead of Nancy Stephens) and, just like with Pleasence, the President of the United States is ushered into an escape pod. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 10 July 2025

They were ushered inside so that they didn’t get exposed to the troops that were walking in formation across their playground area. —Louis Casiano , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025

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

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1588, 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