usher in

verb

ushered in; ushering in; ushers in

transitive verb

: to serve to bring into being

a discovery that ushered in a period of change

: 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.

The last generation of technology, meanwhile, ushered in a cohort of social media apps that proved so addictive that Meta agreed to fork over up to $17 billion as part of a landmark settlement this week. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Brown’s opponent is the incumbent Jon Husted, who previously, as lieutenant governor, helped usher in an explosion of data centers in the state, many of which were developed after Ohio offered them lucrative tax breaks. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 The undefeated 21-year-old Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) is widely favored to win, potentially becoming the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson and ushering in a new era. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 If the temperature rises, usher in some airflow; don’t be afraid to sling your sweater over your shoulders or tie it around your waist. — India Roby, Glamour, 27 Aug. 2026 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

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

usherette

usher in

usherless

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Usher in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher%20in. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

usher in

verb

Examples of usher in in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes