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

Quarterback dramatics aside, Georgia won with a stubborn rushing attack (37 attempts, 141 yards) and a swarming defense reminiscent of its October win over the Longhorns in Austin, with the Dawgs registering six sacks and three turnovers on Saturday. —The Athletic College Football, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil; set aside. Make meatball mixture: Mix together eggs, panko, salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, 2 teaspoons of the Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon of the pepper in a large bowl. —Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024

Noun

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

As an aside, what’s happening with the controversial AI Stock Super Micro Computer? —Trefis Team, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Preposition

Allocate time for skill development or industry research to stay competitive in your field, as well as setting aside time to develop and practice your elevator pitch and other interview preparation. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

In one of his final acts as president in 1933, Herbert Hoover used the Antiquities Act to set aside Death Valley as a national monument. —Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 9 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