usher in

verb

ushered in; ushering in; ushers in

transitive verb

1
: to serve to bring into being
a discovery that ushered in a period of change
2
: to mark or observe the beginning of
ushered in the new year with merrymaking
Choose the Right Synonym for usher in

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation.

begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable.

begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Examples of usher in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Does Everyone Celebrate with the Easter Bunny? While the Easter Bunny is very popular in the United States, some other countries have their own animal to usher in the spring holiday. Alison Fox, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024 Cybele Mayes-Osterman A winter storm is expected to usher in a snowy start to spring, with snowfall already beginning in parts of the Midwest on Friday morning before the storm moves eastward to drop snow on upstate New York and New England later in the weekend. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 And even warmer-weather clothing has seen a price slash to usher in the spring, with the breathable REI Co-op Trailmade Shorts boasting a $36 price tag. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Sofia Richie may be welcoming a new baby soon, but the stylish star is also ushering in a brand new partnership with luxury haircare brand NEXXUS. Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 The purpose of the 24-hour gathering was to bid farewell to winter and usher in the warmth of spring with fire, food, and festivities. Sarah Wood, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024 Hungary’s ties with Iran and China could undermine the calculation underpinning its combative relations with the Biden administration — that Mr. Trump will win in November and usher in a new era of hostility to Ukraine and friendship with Mr. Orban. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Looking to usher in a new era at the north London club, manager Arteta signed Ødegaard on a permanent deal, in a move that finally gave the playmaker stability. Ben Church, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 The 2020 racial reckoning ushered in a host of new entrants to the corporate diversity function. Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usher in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usher in was circa 1600

Dictionary Entries Near usher in

Cite this Entry

“Usher in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher%20in. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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