usher

[ uhsh-er ]

/ ˈʌʃ ər /

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See synonyms for usher on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

a male attendant of a bridegroom at a wedding.

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

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

verb (used with object)

to act as an usher to; lead, introduce, or conduct: She ushered them to their seats.

to attend or bring at the coming or beginning; precede or herald (usually followed by in): to usher in the new theater season.

verb (used without object)

to act as an usher: He ushered at the banquet.

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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; see -er²

OTHER WORDS FROM usher

ush·er·ship, nounun·der·ush·er, nounun·ush·ered, adjective

Other definitions for usher (2 of 2)

Usher

[ uhsh-er ]

/ ˈʌʃ ər /

noun

James. Ussher, James.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use usher in a sentence

Ted Lindsay, Reggie Sinclair, and Marty Pavelich of the Red Wings, were ushers, and Ted's wife, Pat, was matron of honor.
Gordie Howe Hockey’s Greatest War Horse|W.C. Heinz|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is a writing school of one, and Made to Break ushers his literary energies into categorical existence.
Novelist D. Foy Dubs His Debut ‘Gutter Opera’ And Who Are We To Argue?|J.T. Price|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their garb lent them either the gravitas the Republican bench has previously lacked, or the doleful aspect of ushers at a funeral.
Huckabee Grills GOP Candidates in Republican Presidential Forum|Lloyd Grove|December 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Ushers passed around little pieces of paper on which congregants could inscribe messages of support to victims of sexual abuse.
Faithful Struggle With Scandal at Penn State, Where Football Is Religion|Jacob Bernstein, Jessica Bennett|November 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Dissatisfaction on the home front necessitates a showdown that ushers in a desired new order.
Your Week: What the Stars Hold|Starsky + Cox|September 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Urbanity ushers in water that needs no apology, and gives a zest to the worst vintage.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
The ribbon was supported at proper distances by white staves, similar to those of the court ushers.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808|Lt-Col. Pinkney
“In the beloved hour that ushers day” (Songs of Travel), xxiv.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
The general public never contacts the real circus people, just the ticket takers, ushers, and roustabouts.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
There are little doors with numbers on them on one side, and about half-way along the steward stops and ushers us into our cabin.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton

British Dictionary definitions for usher (1 of 2)

usher

/ (ˈʌʃə) /

noun

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

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

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

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

British obsolete a teacher

verb (tr)

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

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

Word Origin for usher

C14: from Old French huissier doorkeeper, from Vulgar Latin ustiārius (unattested), from Latin ostium door

British Dictionary definitions for usher (2 of 2)

Usher

/ (ˈʌʃə) /

noun

a variant spelling of (James) Ussher

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

usher

Origin of usher

OTHER WORDS FROM usher

Other definitions for usher (2 of 2)

Words related to usher

How to use usher in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for usher (1 of 2)

Word Origin for usher

British Dictionary definitions for usher (2 of 2)