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

To enforce the rule, ushers roam the aisles with flashlights and threaten to remove anyone not in compliance. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025

Rothenberg posted that play had resumed on Center Court without video or scoreboards in the grandstand, and with ushers using their fingers to relay the score to spectators. —Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

Verb

By confidently embracing change, HR leaders can usher their teams into a future where human values and innovative capabilities work in harmony. —Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Over the years, however, not everyone has applauded the changes that Armani ushered into Hollywood. —Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 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