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 Most returned to Morocco or were ushered back over the border within days, but around 5,000, including 1,200 minors, remain in the city weeks later, according to the national government. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Most of the migrants who crossed into Ceuta in late July returned to neighboring Morocco or were ushered back within days. — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for usher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usher
Verb
  • Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise steered the movies in a new darker direction, scoring $147M globally.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Spithill steers Oracle’s space-age, 72-foot catamaran to its eighth straight victory, speeding past Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand in the winner-take-all Race 19 on San Francisco Bay.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Kelly said his decision must be guided by courts' prior rulings in comparable First Amendment cases, even if the government disagrees with them.
    — JOCELYN NOVECK, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • This staff’s job is to guide them through this process, teaching them from their struggles, and keep their confidence high.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Earlier reports suggested Xi could be accompanied by BYD and CATL executives among others, but US officials were reportedly reluctant to host firms with possible links to China’s military.
    — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The accompanying tsunami is estimated to have reached heights of 40 meters within about 100 km from the source.
    — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Parker led a Utah rushing attack that finished with 206 yards, and Dampier completed 18 of 27 passes for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Macmillan led a close American ally; Xi leads America’s paramount adversary.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usher. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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