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 first atomic detonation not only transformed the New Mexico desert but also ushered in the nuclear age, altering WWII and creating an enduring moral burden. — Rebecca Coffey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Redevelopment in downtown Miami and the accidental discovery of the mysterious Miami Circle in 1998 have ushered in a quarter-century of sporadic but remarkable archaeological revelations. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

No sooner does Rhaenrya take the throne than Alicent is ushered in by guards. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026

With Republicans Hilton and Bianco combining to capture only 35% of the vote statewide in the primary, Luna and Adams are expecting Becerra to be ushered in easily. — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1