side·track
ˈsīd-ˌtrak 
1
2
: a position or condition of secondary importance to which one may be diverted
sidetracked; sidetracking; sidetracks
1
: to shunt aside (as to a railroad siding)
2
a
: to turn aside from a purpose : deflect
b
: to prevent action on by diversionary tactics
sidetrack an issue
Examples of sidetrack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Even so, the path to his current status as a senior starting defensive tackle at FIU has had its share of sorrow, sidetracks and setbacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024
Bobby Miller, a playoff starter as a rookie for the Dodgers last year, had his season sidetracked by a shoulder injury, then gave up five runs in his return to the rotation Wednesday.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sidetrack 
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Noun
The dream sequences, flashbacks and sidetracks don’t always succeed, and Torres’s absurdist humor is hit-or-miss.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Even so, the path to his current status as a senior starting defensive tackle at FIU has had its share of sorrow, sidetracks and setbacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Verb
That same year, the administration partnered with Australia and Japan on the Blue Dot Network, an effort to boost high-quality infrastructure investment, but it was soon sidetracked by the pandemic.
—Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024
Bobby Miller, a playoff starter as a rookie for the Dodgers last year, had his season sidetracked by a shoulder injury, then gave up five runs in his return to the rotation Wednesday.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sidetrack
Dictionary Entries Near sidetrack
Cite this Entry
“Sidetrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sidetrack. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sidetrack
1 of 2 noun
side·track
ˈsīd-ˌtrak
sidetrack
2 of 2 verb1
: to transfer from a main railroad line to a siding
2
: to turn aside from a main purpose or use
got sidetracked by all the phone calls
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