usher

1 of 2

noun

ush·​er ˈə-shər How to pronounce usher (audio)
Synonyms of ushernext
1
a
: an officer or servant who has the care of the door of a court, hall, or chamber
b
: an officer who walks before a person of rank
c
: one who escorts persons to their seats (as in a theater)
2
archaic : an assistant teacher

usher

2 of 2

verb

ushered; ushering ˈə-sh(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce usher (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to conduct to a place
2
: to precede as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger
3
: to cause to enter : introduce
a new theory ushered into the world

intransitive verb

: to serve as an usher
usher at a wedding

Examples of usher in a Sentence

Verb He ushered them to their seats. A nurse ushered us into the hospital room.
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.
Noun
Check in with a staffer, who after a short wait ushers diners into Ki in the order of their arrival. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026 As a kid, she’d been terrified of the jeoseung saja of Korean folklore, Grim Reaper–esque ushers into the afterlife. Eliza Berman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
Verb
Wait, one second remained on the clock, so officials waded through the confetti, broke up the handshake between Golding and Georgia coach Kirby Smart and ushered everyone back to the sidelines. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026 The melee was broken up by authorities quickly, though the yelling continued as they were ushered out of the room. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usher

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ussher, from Anglo-French ussier, usscher, from Vulgar Latin *ustiarius doorkeeper, from Latin ostium, ustium door, mouth of a river — more at ostium

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usher was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

usher

1 of 2 noun
ush·​er ˈəsh-ər How to pronounce usher (audio)
: a person who leads other persons to seats (as in a theater or at a wedding)

usher

2 of 2 verb
ushered; ushering ˈəsh-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce usher (audio)
1
: to lead to a place
2
: to cause to enter : introduce
usher in a new era

More from Merriam-Webster on usher

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