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 44-year-old has steered them from relegation trouble to a second Champions League qualification in three seasons with an attractive style of play.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • As the parents and children approached the school, first grader Hayden Raupe steered his black, blue and green bike past a line of cars stretching around the corner.
    Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 7 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
  • The leading causes of alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in 2023 were liver, esophageal and colorectal cancer, according to the study.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Gemini May 21 – June 20 A playful idea could lead somewhere much more interesting.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usher. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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