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 raid helped usher in a new, militant phase of the movement for gay rights. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 The singer and actor has long treated the red carpet as an extension of her artistry, using fashion to usher in each new chapter of her career. — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 31 July 2026 Miley Cyrus is ushering in a new era of her music career, signing with Atlantic Records, label home to Bruno Mars, Charli XCX, Cardi B, Kehlani, and many others, Rolling Stone has confirmed. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026 The sneaker’s iconic Infrared style played a part in ushering in an era of bright fluorescents and neon colors to Nike’s early ‘90s sportswear output. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 July 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

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Usher in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher%20in. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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usher in

verb

Examples of usher in in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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