Synonyms of usher

usher

verb

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

• steer
• guide
• accompany
• lead
• show
• conduct
• direct
• route
• escort
• pilot
• marshal
• precede
• attend
• chaperone
• see
• manage
• control
• convoy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• trail
• dog
• tail
• shadow
• hound
• tailgate

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

Recent Examples of usher

Crosby Stills & Nash were inducted in 1997, then ushered into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026

Thiaw ushered his team off the pitch in that January final when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty, preceding a 17-minute delay before Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved and Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 12 July 2026

If Levi’s stock price is an indication, Gass is ushering the company successfully into that next chapter. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 9 July 2026

That night, Nicholas II, his wife, Alexandra, and their five children were ushered into the cellar of the house where they were imprisoned, along with four of their loyal servants. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026