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

The early 1970s ushered in Lancia’s new Beta Series, launched in 1972 as an attractive upscale model line powered by Fiat underpinnings. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025

Advancements in neurotechnology are ushering in a new frontier of brain health, one that could have a profound impact on not just longevity, but overall quality of life. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025

Canada was quick to respond to this trade threat and ushered in its own multi-round set of tariffs, with the first being issued March 5 and subsequent rounds set to follow in late March and again in April. —Olivia Evans, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025

Their channels thrived by peddling maternal relatability, wrapped in palatable aesthetics, and helped usher in an era of digital culture promising that other women could earn money and praise just by turning a camera on their everyday lives. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1