usher

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 Gurny came to make it after work as a producer, ushering features such as Coup! Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025 Shortly after that, federal grants worth more than $42 million, which were awarded to Brightline between 2022 and 2024 but had not been dispersed, were finally ushered along by Duffy. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025 The old woman ushers them warmly into her home, leading them through a chintzy hallway toward a living room door. Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025 After the tour, guests will be ushered to the backstage dressing room, where their hair and makeup will be done by members of Sabrina’s own glam team. Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usher
Verb
  • After his 21 goals had helped steer John Mousinho’s side to the League One title the previous season, Bishop reported for pre-season in high spirits and in peak physical shape ahead of his first campaign in the Championship.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Investors ought to steer clear of Beyond Meat due to weakening consumer demand for alternative meat products, analysts from Mizuho said after the stock rocketed higher earlier this week.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But in this case, the Nuggets might not have enough room on their books for Watson next summer, if avoiding the second apron remains a guiding principle for team ownership.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Many feature regions with differing mechanical properties, guiding robots with complex, adaptable movements.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, Nadella said no one could’ve predicted the groundwork laid by that first investment, which led Microsoft to eventually pour $13 billion into OpenAI.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • As previously reported by PEOPLE, the two men were arrested after the Paris Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB) and the Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Goods (OCBC) led an investigation into the robbery on Saturday, according to French outlets Le Parisien and Paris Match.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The accompanying image shows a glass bottle of vanilla coffee syrup.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Two guesthouses accompany the roughly 4,500-square-foot main residence.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usher. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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