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

Juniper, gin’s primary flavor component, was toned down, creating an opportunity to explore a swath of flavorful botanicals and ushering in a new era of experimentation. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025

The iconic 1960 film ushered in the French New Wave and propelled its stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg to fame. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025

Spring has sprung in Florida, ushering in warmer temperatures, pollen is coating cars and many annual events returning to take advantage of beautiful outdoor weather. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025

The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick premiered earlier this month at South by Southwest, ushering in what could be a big year for Ohs and Harris. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1