wayside

noun

way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side of or land adjacent to a road or path
wayside adjective
Phrases
by the wayside
: out of consideration : into a condition of neglect or disuse
usually used with fall

Examples of wayside in a Sentence

Flowers grew along the wayside.
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.
This notion has gone by the wayside because the social contract between home and school is no longer enforced. Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025 Mineral deal pursued by Trump goes by the wayside, for now All the while, Trump was focused on securing a financial stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals to recoup the tens of billions the U.S. has given to Kyiv to defend itself. Zeke Miller, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025 But many of the technologies essential for maintaining the United States’ global primacy, such as biomanufacturing or new materials for the next generation of computing, fall by the wayside. Steve Bowsher, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2025 In the lexicon of healthy habits, feet tend to fall by the wayside. Erica Sloan, SELF, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wayside

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wayside was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wayside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wayside. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

wayside

noun
way·​side ˈwā-ˌsīd How to pronounce wayside (audio)
: the side or border of a road or path
wayside adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on wayside

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