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

This strategic evolution cements the brand’s influence beyond music, ushering in a new era of innovative onscreen storytelling. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

The wait is over, and the Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center is preparing to reopen, ushering in a new era of performance, events and Black culture in Leimert Park. — Lamonica Peters, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

After temperatures reached only 77 degrees on Sunday in the metro, they are expected to return to the low 80s on Monday, ushering in a pleasant workweek in across the Kansas City area. — Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

The German prosecution ushered in a period of relative quiet. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1