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
Mexican folk music would be played at the stadium, and the Dodgers even hired more Spanish-speaking ushers to accommodate the influx of new Hispanic fans. Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024 For some, the day may have involved one final trip to the top of Mount Davis, one last visit with a favorite usher, or a final hot dog from a favorite concession stand. Shane Lantz, The Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2024
Verb
One song into the encore, Morrissey was ultimately ushered off the stage, with one security guard noticeably seen limping from a leg injury after attempting to remove a fan. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024 The hotel ushers guests into both the past and present grandeur with subtle winks to Harlem Renaissance icons, which can be seen in the artwork, furniture design, and even the staircases. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 1 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near usher

Cite this Entry

“Usher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usher. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!