usher

1 of 2

noun

ush·​er ˈə-shər How to pronounce usher (audio)
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
See the Best Photos of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster's Wedding The Duke and Duchess tied the knot on June 7, 2024, with Prince William serving as an usher for the ceremony at Chester Cathedral. Meredith Kile, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Set in the White House, the series follows Cordelia as she’s called upon to solve the murder of chief usher A.B. Wynter (Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito). Photo: Courtesy Of Warner Bros. Pictures., refinery29.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Sitting one row apart, the bandmates were quickly ushered into their seats shortly after the theater’s lights dimmed. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 At one point during Tuesday's talks in the coastal city of Jeddah, journalists were ushered in for a briefing with Rubio and Waltz, only to be ushered out when the conversation kept going. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2025 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

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usher was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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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