aside

1 of 3

adverb

ə-ˈsīd 

1

: to or toward the side

stepped aside

2

: away from others or into privacy

pulled him aside

3

: out of the way especially for future use : away

putting aside savings

4

: away from one's thought or consideration

All kidding aside, we really need to get busy.

aside

2 of 3

noun

1

: an utterance not meant to be heard by someone

especially : an actor's speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters

2

: a comment or discussion that does not relate directly to the main subject being discussed : digression

He frequently interrupted his narrative with amusing asides.

aside

3 of 3

preposition

obsolete

: beyond, past

Synonyms

Noun

• digression
• divagation
• excursion
• tangent

Examples of aside in a Sentence

Adverb

He stepped aside and let her pass.

He threw his coat aside.

She laid the book aside.

He elbowed people aside as he moved through the crowd.

He took her aside to speak to her privately.

Someone grabbed him and pulled him aside.

Noun

She made a joke about the food in a muttered aside to her husband.

The book includes several lengthy asides about the personal lives of scientists involved in the project.

In his speech he mentioned her contributions almost as an aside, despite the fact that she was the one who came up with the idea originally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The tower at 970 Turquoise Street would set aside five units for very low-income residents and another five for moderate-income residents. —Andrew Keatts, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

For one special day, these children and their families set their worries aside, immersing themselves in the magic of the season and the warm embrace of their local community. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

Just as an aside for context, Dixon’s family didn’t know about the Medlock connection until the research for this seris began. —Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

In its legal asides and the opaque quality of its principal characters, the series mirrors the spirit of the books. —Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

Preposition

The panel initially agreed to set aside the report. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024

That starts with setting aside the time for it, and making sleep a priority. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

see side entry 1

Noun

see side entry 1

Preposition

see side entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1592, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aside

• aside from
• brush aside
• cast aside
• joking aside
• lay aside
• pull aside
• push aside
• put aside
• set aside
• stand aside
• step aside
• sweep aside
• take (someone) aside
• wave aside

Kids Definition

aside

1 of 2 adverb

ə-ˈsīd 

1

: to or toward the side

stepped aside

2

: out of the way especially for future use : away

put money aside for school

3

: away from one's thought or consideration

all kidding aside

aside

2 of 2 noun

: words meant not to be heard by someone

especially : an actor's words supposedly not heard by others on the stage