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

In the same interview, Bezos predicted AI could usher in a three-day workweek, as Fortune reported. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026

Despite dropping temperatures and October ushering in the autumn season, spring designs certainly made an impression on celebrities. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

One of the most influential fashion photographers of his generation, Lindbergh, who died in 2019 at the age of 74, helped usher in the era of the supermodel with his striking black-and-white portraits. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Each day beyond the autumn equinox ushers in darker days and cooler temperatures — the cues for leaves to change color. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1