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.
Senior reporter Brandy Zadrozny reports on why Zuckerberg’s decision may usher in a new unbridled era of social media. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025 Hoping to usher in a new era for California’s fourth-largest city is Daniel Lurie, a billionaire heir who was sworn in Wednesday as mayor. Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Jan. 2025 Blue Origin will attempt to launch the first of a new kind of rocket on Friday (Jan. 10) to usher in a new era for the company. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2025 His win over former Mayor London Breed and the progressive candidate and City Hall veteran Aaron Peskin ushers in a new political era of city leadership. Nadia Lopez, Axios, 8 Jan. 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

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 19 Jan. 2025.

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