usher

noun

/ˈʌʃə(r)/

/ˈʌʃər/

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a person who shows people where to sit in a church, public hall, etc.Topics Religion and festivalsc2, Film and theatrec2
an official who has special responsibilities in court, for example allowing people in and out of the court
a friend of the couple at a wedding who helps show people to their seats compare best man, bridesmaid, groomsman

Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a doorkeeper): from Anglo-Norman French usser, from medieval Latin ustiarius, from Latin ostiarius, from ostium ‘door’.

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
take
- lead
- escort
- drive
- show
- walk
- guide
- usher
- direct
These 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’.