SKIP TO CONTENT

usher in

/ˌʌʃər ɪn/
IPA guide

Other forms: ushered in; ushering in; ushers in

To usher in is to launch something new, or mark its beginning. Your habit of wearing a tuxedo every day just may usher in a new era of formal wear at school.

Use this phrase for something that seems to represent a new stage or time period. The very earliest commercial plane flights ushered in an age of regular air travel, and the UK leaving the European Union will usher in a new phase for the whole region. Sometimes this phrase is used to mean "announce an arrival," the way your school's departing principal might usher in his replacement, introducing her to the students. To usher is to guide or escort.

Definitions of usher in
  1. verb
    be a precursor of
    “The fall of the Berlin Wall ushered in the post-Cold War period”
    synonyms: inaugurate, introduce
    see moresee less
    type of:
    begin, commence, lead off, start
    set in motion, cause to start
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘usher in'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family