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
Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside.
—Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
As an aside, Musk’s takeover of Twitter/X is a completely different scenario.
—Mark Weinstein, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Trump said Musk set aside his own business interests for the campaign and didn’t ask for anything in return.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
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
Those tallies could change as ballots set aside for curing and other remaining votes are counted.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside.
—Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
Perhaps Starboard could do without the occasional asides about removing CEOs at other companies, which ended up getting misquoted and misconstrued into highly disrespectful, unwarranted, and premature calls for Bourla’s removal.
—Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
As an aside, Musk’s takeover of Twitter/X is a completely different scenario.
—Mark Weinstein, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024
Preposition
Even setting aside the overwhelming grief, this man completely altered her life, changing the way people treat her.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Trump said Musk set aside his own business interests for the campaign and didn’t ask for anything in return.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aside
Dictionary Entries Near aside
Cite this Entry
“Aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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