aside

1 of 3

adverb

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

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
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.
Adverb
Raw deliveries aside, TGL nailed the whole proof-of-concept thing by attracting a far younger audience than golf is used to reaching. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 7 Mar. 2025 Leaving blockbuster action aside, March 2025's additions come with some indie pedigree as well, such as the heartwrenching Endling: Extinction is Forever and mystery adventure The Forgotten City. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Sometimes, his wisecracks and confessional asides come as a direct address. Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2025 Should the tale of a 600-year-old artist, with its technical asides on the art of the fresco, come before the tale of modern-day teenage angst? Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Preposition
Senate Bill 764 mandates that parents of children shown in at least 30 percent of monetized online content set aside the same proportion of the earnings into a trust until the child turns 18. Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025 During the Cold War, major powers signed the Antarctic Treaty, setting aside territorial claims on the continent and committing instead to use it as a site of international scientific exploration and cooperation. Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aside

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of aside was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

aside

1 of 2 adverb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on aside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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