1
: a line at right angles to a goal line or end line and marking a side of a court or field of play for athletic games
2
a
: a line of goods sold in addition to one's principal line
b
: a business or activity pursued in addition to one's regular occupation
3
a
: the space immediately outside the lines along either side of an athletic field or court
b
: a sphere of little or no participation or activity
—usually used in plural
Examples of sideline in a Sentence
Noun
She makes and sells jewelry as a sideline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Joseph, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Instead, that extra time is spent with Stitch on the sidelines, taking a back seat to the relationship between Lilo and her big sister Nani, who was thrown into a guardian role after their parents died in an accident.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 May 2025
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Author Interviews How sexism and homophobia sidelined the National Women's Football League
Irsay's three daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — are all involved in the team, and each currently holds the title of vice chair/owner.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideline
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Noun
Both players join fellow defenders Gabriel and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the sidelines, while forward Gabriel Jesus has been out since January with an ACL injury.
—Sam Joseph, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Instead, that extra time is spent with Stitch on the sidelines, taking a back seat to the relationship between Lilo and her big sister Nani, who was thrown into a guardian role after their parents died in an accident.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 21 May 2025
Verb
And as has become customary, the Knicks were on pace to play all five starters 40-plus minutes — if not for foul trouble that sidelined Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Author Interviews How sexism and homophobia sidelined the National Women's Football League
Irsay's three daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — are all involved in the team, and each currently holds the title of vice chair/owner.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sideline
Cite this Entry
“Sideline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sideline. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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