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

Late 2022 brought the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT and ushered in a new era of generative AI technology. — Ari Levy, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

This year, the Dodgers watched the World Series from home, with the Milwaukee Brewers’ World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays officially ushering in a fresh slate for the Dodgers to plan their 2027 championship pursuit. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Right now, Australia’s government is considering proposals, pitched by big tech, that would usher in copyright reforms for the purposes of AI training. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2026

And while her new partnership with stylist Law Roach has ushered in a more refined era of archival fashion, some things are simply too good to give up. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1