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
Adverb
Though he's appealed the decision, he's still required to set the money aside. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024 Rodrigo’s Hollywood experience aside, there’s an authenticity and natural relatability to her presence. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2024 The package sets aside nearly $208 million for the Ebbing Air National Guard Base on top of $83 million approved for the Fort Smith site in this month's first spending package. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Mar. 2024 Knowing this, parents should set aside at least an hour or two to put it together. Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024 Next, whisk in the yolks, one at a time; set aside. Christina Morales, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 Formalities of hype aside—knowing Ice Spice, that could be literally anyone. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 Majors' sentencing in the domestic violence case was postponed to April 8, after his attorneys filed a motion in February to set aside his conviction. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024 Nostalgia aside, Thorson is also pragmatic about the time spent crunching during her early career. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
An action comedy written by Dax Shepard and co-starring him opposite his real-life partner Kristen Bell, Hit & Run gives off Tarantino vibes, featuring more than a few comedic asides, violent outbursts, and meandering banter. Johnny Loftus, EW.com, 14 Nov. 2023 Smirnov noted, seemingly as an aside, that Hunter Biden was on Burisma’s board, which had been widely reported. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 As with last year’s sublime Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the developers have infused every aspect of this game with quirky little asides and creative flair that elevate what could be an otherwise bland-looking title. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 This isn’t a film fueled by quips and cynical asides about modern life. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2023 Later, Dakota’s voiceover narration and non-fiction asides take us back to 1910, before a fire consumed a previous iteration of the attractions. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024 Republicans seem to remember Trump’s social-media habits as either funny asides or inconsequential distractions — or both. Noah Rothman, National Review, 15 Jan. 2024 His sidebars and asides sparkle with an impromptu charm that invites reflection. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 Director Howard, sort of using a script credited to Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (both of Who Framed Roger Rabbit fame) as his frequent jump-off point, gooses the material with odd asides. Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2023
Preposition
In his speech, Biden to his credit did entreat Republicans to set aside differences and pass essential legislation on a variety of issues. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 If the board is properly elected but HOA decisions are not properly conducted under the law, any homeowner could sue and possibly set aside any such HOA decision, throwing the HOA into chaos. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 Consider setting aside time on the weekends to gather fresh ingredients and prepare your meals for the week in advance. Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2024 But the culture of calm also relies on a capacity for setting aside concerns. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Next, dive into your profit and loss statement, meticulously analyzing your annual and ongoing turnover while setting aside funds for taxes. Bianca Barratt, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But setting aside our own issues, here are the creatures that lead to the most human deaths. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 Lawmakers in Nebraska sponsored a bill that would set aside $15,000 in grants to help safe haven locations install baby boxes, plus another $50,000 for the next fiscal year and $10,000 per year after that for a public awareness campaign about the state’s safe haven law. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 After muscling aside Volkswagen AG as China’s bestselling carmaker, BYD is expanding in Europe to create fresh revenue streams and escape a bruising price war in its home market. Stefan Nicola, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near aside

Cite this Entry

“Aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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