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.
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.
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
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Prep the Vegetables Season both sides of the tomato slices with flaky salt and set aside.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Brett Samuels, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
As an aside, will disappointing guidance lead to future weakness?
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Representatives from the industry point out that states already set aside money from gambling revenue for treatment and intervention.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aside
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
The law also obliges parents to set money aside for children who appear on the internet.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Prep the Vegetables Season both sides of the tomato slices with flaky salt and set aside.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
There was some talk among Trump allies that Musk’s media appearances may be curbed after an aside about the need to address waste in Social Security became fodder for Democrats who viewed it as an attack on the program.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025
As an aside, will disappointing guidance lead to future weakness?
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Preposition
The county set aside a fund of $1 million, which could cover subsidies to build five apartment, town home or condominium units, at $200,000 each, according to a county staff report.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Representatives from the industry point out that states already set aside money from gambling revenue for treatment and intervention.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aside
Cite this Entry
“Aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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