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

Across the country, the Marlins could be ushering in their own paradigm shift. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

The president’s lenient tack on some mind-altering drugs ushers in a new world of right-wing drug policy. —Lev Facher, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026

Stars who open up about the work they get done are frequently praised for ushering in a new era in beauty culture. —Rheana Murray, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

In fact, two US senators from Maine are credited with ushering in some of the country’s most important air pollution regulations. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1