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

About half of the Executive Mansion’s team of housekeepers, ushers, valets and butlers are currently working. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Bar Kupershtein The 23-year-old from Holon, central Israel, was taken during the Nova Festival while working as an usher and served as a combat soldier in the IDF. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 13 Oct. 2025

Verb

That is, until 2003, when its birds flew — or, more accurately, were carefully moved — and ushered about 16 miles northeast to the newer attraction. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

The media was ushered out of the room as people at the event attended to the individual. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 6 Nov. 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

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