usher

¹ American  

[uhsh-er] / ˈʌʃ ər /

noun

1. a person who escorts people to seats in a theater, church, etc.

2. a person acting as an official doorkeeper, as in a courtroom or legislative chamber.

3. a male attendant of a bridegroom at a wedding.

4. an officer whose business it is to introduce strangers or to walk before a person of rank.

5. British Archaic. a subordinate teacher or an assistant in a school.

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verb (used with object)

1. to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct.

   She ushered them to their seats.

2. to attend or bring at the coming or beginning; precede or herald (usually followed byin ).

   to usher in the new theater season.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as an usher.

   He ushered at the banquet.

Usher ² American  

[uhsh-er] / ˈʌʃ ər /

noun

1. James. Ussher, James.

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usher ¹ British  

/ ˈʌʃə /

noun

1. an official who shows people to their seats, as in a church or theatre

2. a person who acts as doorkeeper, esp in a court of law

3. (in England) a minor official charged with maintaining order in a court of law

4. an officer responsible for preceding persons of rank in a procession or introducing strangers at formal functions

5. obsolete a teacher

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verb

1. to conduct or escort, esp in a courteous or obsequious way

2. (usually foll by in) to be a precursor or herald (of)

Usher ² British  

/ ˈʌʃə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of (James) Ussher

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Other Word Forms

• underusher noun
• unushered adjective
• ushership noun

Etymology

Origin of usher

1350–1400; Middle English uscher doorkeeper < Anglo-French usser, Old French ( h ) uissier doorman, officer of justice < Vulgar Latin *ustiārius, equivalent to Latin ōsti ( um ) door + -ārius -ary; -er ²

Example Sentences

Sulzberger said AI “is almost certainly going to usher in an unprecedented torrent of crap,” referencing deepfakes as an example.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Here is what to know about the highly anticipated mission that will usher in a new chapter of space exploration:

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

These injections—and, now, pills—have reshaped how medicine thinks about obesity and diabetes, as well as helped usher in a new era of hyperskinny celebrities and models.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

"This is expected to usher in a new form of agriculture where robots and humans collaborate," he explained.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

When they see a police car coming or that officers are conducting a sweep, they unlatch their front gates and usher migrants in to hide in their gardens and backyards.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Related Words

• escort
• initiate
• precede
• steer