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
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.
Now, under its new name, the track aims to usher in a fresh chapter for NASCAR in Atlanta—one with faster racing, brighter signage, and perhaps a few more family phone calls about marketing strategy. Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025 As for the main event? Lucky Jupiter enters Cancer on June 9, igniting your committed seventh house of partnerships, which ushers in a year-long era of relationship blessings, whether personally or professionally. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 June 2025 Tariffs on most countries remain on hold because of 90-day pauses instated by Trump, meant to usher in trade deals, and uncertainty over Trump’s authority to instate double-digit tariffs remains. Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 30 May 2025 Patriotic tunes from the symphony, sometimes with vocal accompaniment, led up to Tchaikovsky’s overture, complete with blasting cannons, to usher in more blasts from a fireworks show that lit up the sky over the Liberty Memorial tower. Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for usher in

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

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Cite this Entry

“Usher in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher%20in. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

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