usher

Definition of ushernext
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front ushered the job applicant into the room and then left

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usher in different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of usher in are begin, commence, inaugurate, initiate, and start. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

How is begin related to other words for usher in?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How does the word commence relate to other synonyms for usher in?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When is inaugurate a more appropriate choice than usher in?

Although the words inaugurate and usher in have much in common, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When could initiate be used to replace usher in?

The meanings of initiate and usher in largely overlap; however, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

When might start be a better fit than usher in?

The words start and usher in are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of usher This is a curious move, where an organization’s wider emissions are both ushered into the accounting picture and bounced out of it. Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 As quickly as the light left, it was ushered back to the day in the hands of Björk rocking a custom Robert Wun balloon dress. E.r. Pulgar, SPIN, 1 Sep. 2026 The foldable phone launch will likely provide a tailwind of friendly press coverage to help usher him in, but Ternus can’t bank on a long honeymoon period. Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Officers then entered the home, ushered out the residents and confronted the suspect in a backroom of the house. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usher
Verb
  • The 16-year-old girl who was steering the bicycle — which appeared to be a Citi Bike in footage shared by ABC7 Eyewitness News — sustained injuries to her leg and was hospitalized, per the NYPD.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The younger girl sat on the back of the bike, while the older teen pedaled and steered, police sources said.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Do ask for staff suggestions on what to do in and around the area—our own itinerary was entirely guided by Troutbeck’s staff, and their tips were always spot on.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The judgment was a crushing blow for a man who was once embraced by the West, invited to the 1999 peace talks in France and seen as the leader who could guide Kosovo to independence.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Families Belden House & Mews and its accompanying restaurant, welcome children ages 12+.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • These surrogates, mostly in their 20s and 30s, provide companionship rather than specialized medical care, visiting, chatting, helping clients set up smartphones or accompanying them to medical appointments.
    HUIYEE CHIEW AND LYRIC LI THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and CDC data released this year show firearm suicides actually climbed to their highest level on record in 2025, topping 28,000.
    Courtney Marx, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The Harmonizers met for the first time in the Elgin City Hall courtroom on April 30, 1946, with 20 men in attendance and Ben Willis leading the singing.
    Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usher. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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