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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 25 Sep. 2026.

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