Definition of usher verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

usher

verb

/ˈʌʃə(r)/

/ˈʌʃər/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they usher	/ˈʌʃə(r)/ /ˈʌʃər/
he / she / it ushers	/ˈʌʃəz/ /ˈʌʃərz/
past simple ushered	/ˈʌʃəd/ /ˈʌʃərd/
past participle ushered	/ˈʌʃəd/ /ˈʌʃərd/
-ing form ushering	/ˈʌʃərɪŋ/ /ˈʌʃərɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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usher somebody + adv./prep. to take or show somebody where they should go
- The secretary ushered me into his office.
- We were asked to leave and ushered out of the door.
Synonyms take
takelead ▪ escort ▪ drive ▪ show ▪ walk ▪ guide ▪ usher ▪ directThese words all mean to go with somebody from one place to another.
take to go with somebody from one place to another, for example in order to show them something or to show them the way to a place:
It’s too far to walk—I’ll take you by car.
lead to go with or go in front of somebody in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction:
Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
escort to go with somebody in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way:
The President arrived, escorted by twelve bodyguards.
drive to take somebody somewhere in a car, taxi, etc:
My mother drove us to the airport.
show to take somebody to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route:
The attendant showed us to our seats.
walk to go somewhere with somebody on foot, especially in order to make sure that they get there safely; to take an animal, especially a dog, for a walk or make an animal walk somewhere:
He always walked her home.
Have you walked the dog yet today?
guide to show somebody the way to a place, often by going with them; to show somebody a place that you know well:
She guided us through the busy streets.
We were guided around the museums.
usher (rather formal) to politely take or show somebody where they should go, especially within a building:
She ushered her guests to their seats.
direct (rather formal) to tell or show somebody how to get somewhere or where to go:
A young woman directed them to the station.
Patterns
- to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher/direct somebody to/out of/into something
- to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide somebody around/round
- to take/lead/escort/drive/walk somebody home
- to take/lead/escort/guide somebody to safety
- to lead/show the way
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a doorkeeper): from Anglo-Norman French usser, from medieval Latin ustiarius, from Latin ostiarius, from ostium ‘door’.

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See usher in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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Phrasal verbs

usher something in

Nearby words

halfway

adverb

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